French Minister Highlights Economic Priorities in Morocco Visit, Praises Bilateral Ties

Financing of VSEs-SMEs, support for the "decarbonization" of the Moroccan economy, scientific and technical cooperation in the digital and digital sector and the development of a common projection strategy towards Africa, are the four priorities of economic and industrial cooperation, said Franck Riester. He stated that even before the crisis, the two countries had given a new dimension to their partnership called the "Franco-Moroccan Economic Pact". For the French minister, thanks to this pact, the pandemic context must be an opportunity for the Franco-Moroccan couple to move forward faster and stronger. This approach stems from the fact that Morocco is the leading investor on the African continent, and France is Morocco’s 2nd trading partner. It would be illusory to remove these bridges, he explains to the newspaper l’Economiste.

When asked how to adapt this cooperation to pandemic situations, Franck Riester affirmed that the exceptional relationship between Morocco and France must be further deepened. He did not fail to highlight some important successes of this trade relationship such as the Tangier-Kenitra high-speed line, the hydrogen sector, the high-tech sector.

Beyond these particular attractions of this partnership, the French minister also spoke about the trade battle between the United States and China, which has seriously undermined multilateralism in the WTO mode. From his analysis, we note that there have been dysfunctions in the multilateral trade framework accentuated by the pandemic crisis. It is important to carry out the reform of the WTO on which France is working with its European partners. For him, the WTO must become the guarantor of the common rules of the game again. Minister Riester hoped that the next Director General of the WTO could better defend commercial multilateralism and sustainable development.

The French Minister Delegate also dwelt on the EU’s trade policy linked to the Covid context and in relation to France’s position. For him, his country has helped to repair the vulnerabilities highlighted on its value and supply chains. After such a situation, France has an obligation to diversify its suppliers in order to reduce dependence on certain strategic products such as medical products.

On the subject of the discourse on relocations, the semantic approach of the French minister is unambiguous. Franck Riester affirmed that: "Relocating does not mean isolating oneself!". The French minister in this interview conducted by L’Économiste, thinks that we must "co-locate" in France and Morocco new, innovative and sustainable trade circuits, to allow entrepreneurs to conquer new markets.