Strengthening French-Moroccan partnership in the Kingdom’s southern provinces was the focus of talks held on Tuesday in Laayoune by Speaker of the French Senate Gérard Larcher, with several local officials.
Larcher, who is visiting the city at the head of a large parliamentary delegation, was briefed about the progress and milestones achieved by Morocco in the political, economic and social fields, as well as about the tangible efforts deployed in these provinces to carry out programs and projects in various fields with the aim of developing this region.
The talks also focused on the momentum of all-round development in the region, as members of the French delegation emphasized the relevance of the Autonomy plan as the only solution to the artificial dispute around the Sahara.
They also examined ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas linked to local management, decentralization, health, water management (particularly drinking water supply) and waste management.
The Senate Speaker and his accompanying delegation kicked off the construction of the OSUI Paul Pascon French school in the city of Laayoune.
In a statement to the press, Larcher expressed his country’s willingness to further promote its partnership with Morocco in various fields, particularly in the Southern provinces.
“During my visit, we tackled economic development in the region, renewable energies, infrastructure, transport and water management with various local officials”, he said, emphasizing the human capital present in these provinces of the Kingdom.
He also stressed the need for an expanded French consular service that covers the Moroccan Sahara, which he called the Southern Provinces of Morocco.
Members of the French parliamentary delegation then paid field visits to several socio-educational and economic projects, part of a comprehensive and integrated development program of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region.
Since Paris backed Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, the French ambassador to Rabat visited the Sahara, where a French-Moroccan business operators held a meeting to explore business opportunities in the territory.
Few days ago, French culture minister Rachida Dati visited the Sahara and laid the basis for the opening of a French cultural institute.