French economy minister to lead business delegation to Morocco in April

As the diplomatic fog dissipates in French-Moroccan ties, French economy minister Bruno Le Maire is expected to lead a business delegation to Morocco in April to promote investments.

The visit would be the second by a member of Macron’s administration to Morocco after an announced visit soon of newly appointed foreign minister Stephane Séjourné.

Bruno Le Maire will be leading a delegation of French businessmen, members of the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF), who will hold talks with Moroccan private sector association CGEM, Africa Intelligence reports.

Some 150 French CEOs are expected to attend the event to discuss cooperation in key fields such as farming, agri-food, energy, industry, and sustainability.

France is the first source of foreign direct investments in Morocco with 1300 companies employing 80,000 people.

Head of the French senate Gérard Larcher is also expected to lead a delegation on a visit to Morocco in April.

The visits indicate a French willingness to turn the page on an era of diplomatic frost that threatened to sap decades of close cooperation between Paris and Rabat.

Séjourné had told French media last week that he was tasked by Macron to improve ties with Morocco and that Paris backs the autonomy plan for the Sahara.