Morocco, Île-de-France talk bilateral cooperation in Rabat

Following improved relations between France and Morocco of late, both countries are now moving ahead with regional tie ups.

Strengthening bilateral ties was the central theme of discussions held in Rabat on April 22nd between the Morocco Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the President of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse. 

The meeting, as reported by the Moroccan governement friendly Hespress, marked a significant step forward in regional diplomacy, as Pécresse announced that Morocco would become the first country to formalise two separate cooperation agreements with Île-de-France; this meaning one with the Casablanca-Settat region and the other with the Marrakech-Safi region. 

She revealed, after the bilateral ties focused talks, that Île-de-France has already committed €1 million to development initiatives in Casablanca-Settat and that her visit to Morocco would include the inauguration of several “very fine achievements” funded through this investment. 

These projects span several key areas, including digital training, vocational education for non-graduate youth, especially in the catering and hospitality sectors, as well as support for entrepreneurial initiatives through start-up incubators.  

The collaboration aims to address both regional economic development and youth employment, two issues high on the agenda for both partners. 

Following her stop in Casablanca, Pécresse is due to travel to Marrakech, where she will observe the progress of post-earthquake recovery efforts in the Al Haouz region.  

The visit will also serve as an opportunity to formalise the second regional cooperation agreement with the city, further expanding the scope of partnership. 

Pécresse, who is leading a large delegation from the Île-de-France region, also took the occasion to reaffirm France’s position on the Western Sahara issue, declaring that the future of Morocco’s Southern provinces can only be envisaged within the framework of the Kingdom’s sovereignty. 

The French official’s visit, which runs from the 21st to the 24th of April, is focused on bolstering collaboration in three main areas of shared strategic interest: innovation, education, and sustainable development.  

The tour underscores a growing momentum in decentralised diplomacy between Moroccan and French regions, signalling a broader trend of regional-level engagement complementing traditional state-to-state relations. 

Hespress. Maghrebi