Morocco: Dakhla to host major business forum aimed at deepening economic ties with France

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The southern Moroccan city of Dakhla is set to host a high-level economic forum on Thursday, 9 October, bringing together more than 300 business leaders from Morocco and France in a major push to strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships.

The event, organised by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) through the France–Morocco Business Leaders Club, aims to bolster existing collaborations, identify new areas of cooperation, and consolidate a shared vision for sustainable development.

According to a joint statement from the organisers, the forum marks an important step in the evolving Moroccan–French economic relationship, which is built on “trust, complementarity, and the search for sustainable solutions to global challenges.”

It follows the state visit to Morocco by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2024, during which he declared that “the present and future of the Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty.” That visit resulted in the signing of 40 agreements between public and private entities from both countries.

The choice of Dakhla for the forum carries strategic significance.

Often described as Morocco’s “Atlantic gateway” to sub-Saharan Africa, the city embodies King Mohammed VI’s vision of linking the region to the Sahel.

With significant infrastructure projects, expanding industrial zones, and a growing port, Dakhla is emerging as a key hub connecting Europe, Africa, and the wider Atlantic region.

French business leaders see the meeting as a chance to explore one of Africa’s most dynamic emerging markets, which offers both strong national investment appeal and a strategic bridge between continents.

The forum will focus on opportunities in several strategic sectors, including renewable energy, logistics and infrastructure, sustainable tourism and hospitality, agri-food and food security, digital innovation, and workforce development.

This latest gathering builds on previous milestones in Moroccan–French economic cooperation. In April 2024, a forum in Rabat brought together more than 300 entrepreneurs and produced a “white paper” outlining a roadmap for future collaboration.

A second forum, held in October of the same year and attended by President Macron, led to the signing of around 20 agreements across sectors such as finance, desalination, energy, and new technologies.

Organisers say the Dakhla event reflects the shared ambition of CGEM and MEDEF to foster an “enhanced exceptional partnership” between the two nations — one that promotes investment, encourages innovation, and supports job creation on both sides of the Mediterranean.

For both Morocco and France, the gathering is seen as more than a business meeting. It is a strategic moment to cement a long-standing alliance, unlock new economic potential, and shape the future of Euro-African cooperation from one of North Africa’s most promising coastal cities.