French minister lauds Morocco’s development push in Sahara

French culture minister Rachida Dati highlighted at the end of her visit Morocco’s major development leaps in the southern provinces, the Sahara.

During her visit, Dati used the Moroccan term for the Sahara: southern provinces, calling her visit “historic” and a continuation of the momentum launched by Paris recognition of the Kingdom’s sovereignty over its south.

Speaking at a press conference in Rabat, Dati highlighted the investment efforts made by Morocco to develop the region.

“Morocco did not wait for France to develop its southern provinces…anyone can witness the infrastructure development and the public and cultural facilities,” she said, noting Morocco’s investments in the region in the fields of renewable energy, farming and fisheries.

On culture in particular, Dati signed deals with her Moroccan counterpart, Mehdi Bensaid, including the setting up of a French cultural institution in Laayoune.

In Dakhla, France and Morocco plan to work together to build an audiovisual and cinema training center, which will lay the basis for the development of a local cinema industry.

The French official said that strengthening Morocco’s cultural and creative industries, particularly in the cinema and video game sectors, is a top priority, pointing out that culture is an economic activity in its own right, a factor in youth employment and growth.

In this vein, she announced that a dozen Moroccan cultural companies will be visiting Paris in July to take part in the Cultural Entrepreneurship (Entreprendre dans la culture) Forum.

Dati deemed that cultural cooperation between Morocco and France also draws from the depths of history, as demonstrated by the agreements signed in the fields of archives and heritage.

Referring to the African continent, the French minister expressed her wish to see French, Moroccans and African partners working together in a variety of fields, including cinema and publishing.
“For France, Morocco is a real lever, a real springboard towards these countries,” she said.