France has expressed readiness to contribute to funding a 3-gigawatt power cable that would connect Casablanca in Morocco to the town of Dakhla in Western Sahara.
- France has expressed readiness to contribute to funding a 3-gigawatt power cable that would connect Casablanca in Morocco to the town of Dakhla in Western Sahara.
- Morocco wants France to recognise its full sovereignty over Western Sahara, following the example of the U.S. and many Arab and African countries.
- The French development agency AFD is set to provide a loan of 350 million euros to support Morocco's phosphates and fertilizers giant OCP in its decarbonization efforts.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire disclosed this information. According to Reuters, the region of Western Sahara is a subject of dispute between Morocco, which regards it as its southern province, and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, advocating for an independent state in the area.
"I confirm to you that we are ready to participate in funding this project,” Le Maire told a Moroccan-French business forum in Rabat.
In February, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne expressed France's support for Morocco's investments in Western Sahara and reaffirmed backing for Rabat's autonomy plan for the territory. This indicated a thaw in diplomatic relations between the two nations after a period of frostiness.
Morocco wants France to recognise its full sovereignty over Western Sahara, following the example of the U.S. and many Arab and African countries.
According to Le Maire, France is also willing to cooperate with Morocco in developing solar, wind and green hydrogen as well as nuclear power.
The French development agency AFD is set to provide a loan of 350 million euros to support Morocco's phosphates and fertilizers giant OCP in its decarbonization efforts.
France stands as the largest foreign investor in Morocco, with an investment stock totalling 8.2 billion euros ($8.75 billion) up to 2022. Morocco hosts industrial facilities of prominent French companies such as Renault and Safran.
