Morocco/France: Opportunities for Cooperation and Investment at the Heart of a Meeting in Dreux

The opportunities for cooperation and investment between Morocco and France were at the heart of the «France-Morocco Economic Meetings: Successes and Opportunities», organized on Thursday, April 3, in Dreux (Centre-Val de Loire region), with the objective of strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

Marked by the participation of a panel of Moroccan and French experts and professionals, these meetings, which are part of «The Year of Morocco in Dreux » – an event celebrating Franco-Moroccan relations through a varied program combining culture, economy, craftsmanship, and sports – allowed for highlighting the markets and opportunities for bilateral collaboration, particularly in the pharmaceutical and renewable energy sectors.

This event, which took place at the site of the Moroccan company «Intelcia» in Dreux, also presented Moroccan and French institutions that play a role in facilitating and supporting investment and economic development initiatives.

«These meetings respond to a fundamental question: that of the current challenges shared by Moroccan and French companies, particularly those related to health and energy sovereignty », indicated the Consul General of the Kingdom in Orléans, Rajae Benchaji.

It is also an opportunity «to reflect on the possible solutions that the two systems could bring to these challenges», she added.

Highlighting «the strong potential» to be developed in the energy sector, where Morocco positions itself among leaders, as well as in the pharmaceutical sector, between the Kingdom and France, the diplomat emphasized the importance of opening up perspectives for cooperation and complementarity between the industries of the two countries.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI accords «particular importance» to the Moroccan diaspora, which is at the heart of the Kingdom’s economic development, noted Ms. Benchaji, adding that this event constitutes an opportunity to discover the devices and services put in place to support and facilitate the involvement and participation of the diaspora in this growth dynamic.

On his part, the Mayor of Dreux, Pierre-Frédéric Billet, indicated, in a similar statement, that his city is honoring Morocco this year under its best aspects: art, craftsmanship, gastronomy, and economy.

«It is indeed the objective of this Franco-Moroccan forum dedicated notably to the pharmaceutical industry, a sector where solid ties already exist and will continue to develop»,he said.

Morocco, he observed, is becoming the pivotal state of all Africa, with maritime access, political stability, and large-scale investments.

And he added that «the administrative, fiscal reception conditions and the seriousness of the Kingdom make us say that we are making the right choice to invest in Morocco in the coming years ».

For his part, Yassine Bouajaja, representative of the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP), noted that this event allowed highlighting the advances of the Moroccan pharmaceutical industry, particularly regarding «health sovereignty, the strength of our industrialists, and the know-how developed over the past fifty years ».

He specified that Morocco today manages to produce locally more than 75% of its pharmaceutical needs. Moreover, the Kingdom imposes itself as «an indispensable actor» thanks to its pharmaceutical expertise and its geographical positioning, allowing it to be an export platform to African and Middle Eastern countries.

Ali Mehrez, representative of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), emphasized the importance of dynamizing private investment, which is at the heart of the Kingdom’s economic strategy.

And he specified that the Kingdom has equipped itself with a new investment charter, offering investors a unique opportunity and a reliable business environment.

The regional vice-president of «MeM by CGEM », Fatima Boussalla Idrissi, highlighted the various aspects related to the Marocains entrepreneurs du monde (MeM) platform, which aims to integrate MeM into the Moroccan economy.

« MEM by CGEM represents the 13th region of the Confederation, composed of twelve physical regions and one virtual region »,she explained, specifying that this initiative «serves as a link with the other regions » and allows anchoring all MeM present in 120 countries, a large majority of which are in France, to stimulate productive investment and foster economic value creation.

Karim Bernoussi, CEO and co-founder of Intelcia Group, emphasized the importance of promoting investments between Morocco and France, noting that market openness favors cooperation and partnership.

Taking the example of his company, Mr. Bernoussi indicated that Intelcia, founded in Casablanca, arrived in Dreux in 2011 with 2,000 collaborators. «Today, the group has become a world leader in outsourcing, with 40,000 collaborators spread across nineteen countries », he noted, affirming that «development can only be co-development ».

Launched last January during a meeting on the occasion of the New Year’s wishes between the Moroccan Ambassador to France, Samira Sitail, and the Mayor of Dreux, «The Year of Morocco in Dreux », which begins with this economic event, aims to «highlight the human riches of both countries in a city symbolizing Franco-Moroccan friendship ».

Throughout the next nine months, the French city will continue to vibrate with the rhythms and colors of the Kingdom through an economic, sporting, cultural, and exhibition program.

One of the highlights of the event will be the organization of a Morocco exhibition within the Dreux exhibition park (May 21-25), which will showcase stands highlighting artisanal items, real estate offers, local products, as well as animations in pure Moroccan tradition, with a focus on the provinces of southern Morocco and the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region.

In order to open the event to a larger number and all segments of the population, the organizers ensured a program that associates both seniors through a memorial sequence including a conference on June 19 about «five centuries of history between France and Morocco », a documentary on Moroccan immigration, and then the youth by organizing friendly inter-quarter matches and a fun and instructive program (October-December) (photography exhibitions, intergenerational exchanges, documentary screenings, Saint-Denis fair with Moroccan colors and flavors).