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Morocco’s growing role as a key actor in co-development between Europe and Africa and the leading spot of territories in this momentum were highlighted, on Saturday in Nancy, during a conference organized at the initiative of the Maison Europe Afrique association.
Held under the theme “The Strategic Triangle Europe-Morocco-Africa. Towards a New Economic and Cooperation Architecture: The Role of Regions and Local Authorities,” in partnership with the Consulate General of Morocco in Strasbourg, this meeting brought together a host of Moroccan parliamentarians, French deputies and local elected officials, economic operators, academics, as well as numerous members of the diaspora.
The participants highlighted Morocco’s role as a link between the North and the South in a multipolar global context, underscoring the profound transformation the Kingdom is undergoing under the impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
This metamorphosis, they noted, is driven in particular by the rise of renewable energies, industrial development, and the major structuring projects launched in the country, illustrating Morocco’s desire to position itself as a platform for added value and cooperation between Europe and Africa.
Speaking on this occasion, the Mayor of Nancy, Mathieu Klein, emphasized the African continent’s growing desire to become an actor in its own development, based on industrialization, innovation, and local potential.
For him, Morocco stands as an “indispensable partner, strengthened by its stability, its international credibility, and its geographical proximity to the two continents.”
He recalled the deep bonds of friendship uniting Morocco and France, dwelling on the prospects for bilateral cooperation offered by joint projects and the fundamental contribution of the diaspora in supporting this dynamic.
For her part, the Consul General of Morocco in Strasbourg, Soumia Bouhamidi, highlighted the various strategies, initiatives, and reforms launched in the Kingdom under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, noting that this “serious and unwavering commitment constituted a giant step towards building a modern, stable and prosperous Kingdom.”
“This testifies to a Morocco that constantly reinvents itself, faithful to its values, and focused on the future,” the diplomat continued, noting that “in a world marked by fractures and uncertainties, Morocco embodies a bridge between continents, a link between cultures, and a model of balance.”
Bouhamidi pointed out that “in the strategic triangle Europe-Morocco-Africa, a space for dialogue, trade, mobility, and innovation, the Kingdom occupies a central place, anchored in Africa, open to the Mediterranean, and a reliable partner of Europe.”
“Thanks to its policies of openness, its institutional stability, and its status as a spokesperson for a united Africa, Morocco is establishing itself as a key player in reshaping economic balances on the continental and Euro-Mediterranean scale, thanks to high-performance infrastructure, skillful diplomacy, and a development vision focused on inclusion, sustainability, and innovation.”
She also stressed that the growing involvement of Moroccan regions and local authorities in decentralized cooperation positions Morocco as a pivotal actor in regional integration and co-development between Europe and Africa.
For his part, Deputy Stéphane Hablot (Meurthe-et-Moselle), Vice-President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the National Assembly, underlined the opportunities to be seized by French economic operators, particularly in the rapidly growing Moroccan regions, including the Southern Provinces of the Kingdom, thanks to the facilities offered to investors and the accelerated modernization dynamic the region is experiencing.
He insisted, in this context, on a partnership based on complementarity, mutual listening, and a win-win approach, integrating youth, innovation, and cultural exchanges as levers for co-development.
For his part, the President of Maison Europe-Afrique, Bruno Roth, insisted on the considerable potential of the Moroccan regions and the importance of strengthening the exchange of expertise, translating intentions into actions, and fostering partnerships driven by local actors on both shores.
This dynamic, he said, must allow for greater involvement of youth, the mobilization of advanced cooperation tools, and the consolidation of human relations that accompany economic development.
He also called for continued mobilization to support the ongoing metamorphosis in Morocco and to strengthen the bridges between Europe and Africa through integrated, territorialized, and sustainable projects.
He concluded that the convergence of strategies and reinforced cooperation between France and Morocco, Europe and Africa, constitute the foundations of a new co-development architecture, promising a bright future for all involved partners.
Source: map
