Montpellier and Fez Renew Sister City Agreement, Boost Economic and Cultural Ties

Bringing this cooperation agreement to life around issues of economy, higher education, tourism, and culture. This is the objective of the new twinning protocol linking Montpellier to Fez signed by Michaël Delafosse and his counterpart from the city of Fez in Morocco, Abdeslam Bekkali on Monday, in the presence of members of the Fez Chamber of Trades but also representatives of the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University which hosts nearly 100,000 students across 13 different institutions, reports La Dépêche.

"We have built solid links. We are continuing on the same path but with a more sophisticated roadmap," said Abdeslam Bekkali. The first protocol was signed in 2003. For Michaël Delafosse, "there is a new impetus in Franco-Moroccan relations." He added: "Our two cities have great university traditions and we also intend to give a new impetus to work on new areas. I would like to deepen relations with the University of Montpellier on health sciences, renewable energies."

On the education front, the two cities have established university partnerships, one of which will connect Polytech Montpellier and the National School of Applied Sciences (Ensa) of Fez. There are also cooperation projects, particularly on strengthening tourism links. "There is no cooperation if there is no airport connection. Every time we talk together to Air Arabia, it will count," assured the mayor of Montpellier. The French official thus refers to the company that operates flights between the two cities. This "new chapter" of the Montpellier-Fez twinning also includes a paragraph on culture, notably through the Montpellier Arabesques festival, it is specified.

The working visit of the mayor of Montpellier to Morocco continues until the end of the week. He is accompanied by Clare Hart, as well as Mustapha Laoukiri and Sophiane Mansouria, two young elected officials from Montpellier of Moroccan diaspora origin.