Macron Leads High-Profile French Delegation to Morocco, Eyeing Economic Deals

The Head of State will be accompanied by a large delegation of royal size (122 members). In addition to the First Lady, nine ministers, the presidents of the two chambers, CAC40 bosses and sectors of the future, friends of Morocco like Hubert Védrine and Jack Lang, the Franco-Moroccan comedian Jamel Debbouze, the writer Leila Slimani, the judoka Teddy Riner, etc. will make this trip.

On Sunday, the French and Moroccans were rubbing their hands. They "were still negotiating foot by foot the last contracts to make this visit a historic trip," reports L’Opinion, revealing that discussions had notably been engaged for the sale of Airbus to Royal Air Maroc (RAM), but they are not yet conclusive. The wish of the national airline, equipped with Boeing, Embraer and ATR, is to have the European aircraft manufacturer bear the costs of acquiring new maintenance equipment and training.

"Many files are stuck on the financing capacity," confides a Moroccan operator. "The French must align themselves with market conditions in the face of European and Chinese competition, and help us find sources of financing while the Barnier government has reduced the margins of operators like the French Development Agency." The French president should intervene in the negotiations for the acquisition of 188 Airbus aircraft by Royal Air Maroc (RAM).

France is also interested in the market for the extension of the high-speed line (Moroccan TGV), the extension of the tramways of the major cities. Emmanuel Macron should plead in favor of Alstom for the Casablanca-Marrakech High Speed Line market. France also wants to position itself on the infrastructure to be built for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

For its part, Morocco has requested French expertise to build a rail industry and set up a battery manufacturing plant to power "Made in Morocco" electric cars. Groups like Avril are positioning themselves in the professionalization of agri-food sectors, says the same source, adding that "projects are also well advanced in the development of e-sport." "Our Moroccan partners will help us gain competitiveness to then attack other markets in Europe and Africa," assures Philippe Gaut