French Prime Minister's Upcoming Diplomatic Mission to Morocco
According to information from a source at the French embassy in Rabat, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is gearing up for an important visit to the Kingdom of Morocco on July 15 and 16. This trip will mark his first official visit to Rabat since his appointment to the role in September 2025. He will be accompanied by a substantial ministerial delegation consisting of approximately 12 ministers, representing crucial sectors of the government, including pivotal economic and strategic areas.
This visit is anticipated to provide a significant boost to the historical ties between France and Morocco, potentially steering collaboration towards deeper and more sustainable avenues. It is particularly noteworthy in light of the recent transformational changes in bilateral relations, especially following Paris's support for Morocco's autonomy proposal concerning Western Sahara, as well as President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Morocco in October 2024 at the invitation of King Mohammed VI.
France aims to leverage this substantial ministerial presence to translate political commitments into substantial investment and economic projects. Given Morocco's strategic position as a key gateway to Africa, which is experiencing intense geopolitical competition, and as a partner in Mediterranean issues of mutual interest, this mission is strategically crucial. The French embassy in Morocco has underscored that the relations between Rabat and Paris have evolved into a reinforced exceptional partnership, formalized during President Macron's official visit to Morocco. This revitalized relationship focuses on three main pillars: political and strategic alignment, economic development and social cohesion, and strategic sovereignty, alongside humanitarian cooperation.
Economically, France remains Morocco's foremost financial and economic partner, with Morocco being Paris's primary African customer and supplier. Notably, trade between the two nations reached a historic record of €14.8 billion in 2024, more than doubling since 2015. Furthermore, Morocco accounts for over 40% of French exports to Africa, predominantly in transportation, electronic equipment, chemicals, and cosmetics. In parallel, French imports from Morocco have risen by more than 4%, equating to the total imports from both Brazil and Canada combined. There are currently over 950 subsidiaries of French companies operating across all sectors of the Moroccan economy, with nearly all companies listed on the CAC 40 index having a presence in Morocco, fully committed to supporting the Kingdom's ambitions.
The French embassy also indicated that the total number of jobs linked to French companies in Morocco exceeds 150,000, representing about one-third of the jobs created by French businesses across Africa. This number is expected to rise in the coming years as new companies establish operations or existing ones expand their activities. Additionally, France is the leading source of remittances and tourism income for Morocco, making it a vital source of foreign currency for the Kingdom. In 2023, Moroccans living in France accounted for 30.1% of total remittances received by Morocco, and Morocco remains the top tourist destination for the French, who spent over €3 billion there in 2023.
As reported by hespress.com.
