Morocco - France: Signing Ceremony of Multiple Cooperation Agreements
Rabat, Monday, October 28, 2024
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, and THR Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem, and the French President, His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by his spouse Ms Brigitte Macron, presided over the signing ceremony of several agreements between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Monday 28 October 2024. The agreements are as follows:
1- A protocol agreement for the supply of high-speed train sets and their support elements. Signed by the Director General of the National Office of Railways (ONCF), Mohamed Rabie Khlie, and the CEO of Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, this agreement involves a contract for the acquisition of train sets for the high-speed train (12 firm orders and 6 optional).
2- A declaration of intent regarding financial cooperation in the railway sector. Signed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, the Director General of ONCF, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, and the French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry, Antoine Armand.
3- An assistance contract between ONCF and Systra/Egis. Signed by the Director General of ONCF, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, and the CEO of Egis, Laurent Germain, this contract relates to the assistance services for project management of infrastructure projects for the high-speed rail line between Kenitra and Marrakech, contracted with the "Egis Rail/Systra/Novec" consortium.
4- A supply contract between ONCF and Vossloh Cogifer. Signed by the Director General of ONCF, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, and the President of Vossloh, Bertrand Gryspeert, this contract is related to the supply of track devices for the high-speed rail line as part of the railway project between Kenitra and Marrakech. 5- A protocol agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Morocco and Safran for the establishment of an aircraft engine maintenance and repair site. Under this agreement, signed by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, the Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence, and Evaluation of Public Policies, Karim Zidane, and the President of Safran, Ross McInnes, the company plans to invest in the construction and equipping of a maintenance and repair workshop (MRO) for LEAP aircraft engines, with an investment amount of nearly €130 million.
6- An agreement on the implementation of Morocco's offer for the development of the green hydrogen sector. Signed by the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, the Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence, and Evaluation of Public Policies, Karim Zidane, the CEO of Total Energies, Patrick Pouyanne, and the CEO of Total Eren, David Corchia. Under this preliminary contract, the state commits to mobilizing land and reserving it exclusively for the investor in accordance with the conditions specified in the contract, in return for the investor meeting all obligations.
7- A strategic partnership on energy cooperation, connectivity, and energy transition. Signed by the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention, in charge of Energy, Olga Givernet, this partnership aims to develop cooperation and exchanges between the two parties in the energy sector, particularly in energy policy and planning, certification and regulation, renewable energies, electrical systems including production and networks, low-carbon hydrogen production and energy storage, critical metals, and molecule transport.
8- A protocol agreement for the creation of a Morocco-France investment accelerator. Signed by the Director General of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment, Mohamed Benchaaboun, the Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD), Rémy Rioux, the General Director of STOA, Marie-Laure Mazaud, and the Director of International and European Affairs at Bpifrance, Isabelle Bebear. This protocol agreement involves nearly 3 billion dirhams of capital. It is a partnership aimed at stimulating investment across Morocco, including the southern provinces, and will create a 50/50 joint venture dedicated to sustainable infrastructure, with a capital of €300 million.
9- A declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in civil protection. Signed by the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau. Under this agreement, the signatories express their intention to develop bilateral cooperation in civil protection through the exchange of best practices and sharing experiences on preventive measures during civil security crises, establishing joint working groups, and developing structural projects.
10- A declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in combating natural area fires. Signed by the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau. Under this agreement, the signatories express their intention to develop and intensify bilateral cooperation in the use of aerial means for combating natural area fires.
11- A declaration between the National Ports Agency of Morocco and the French Development Agency (AFD). Signed by the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, and the Director General of AFD, Rémy Rioux. Through this declaration, the parties agree to formulate a new support program for the National Ports Agency focused on four main areas: the green transition of ports, improving resilience to climate change, the blue economy, and innovation covering the entire national territory, including the southern provinces (Dakhla and Laayoune). AFD commits to mobilizing a loan of €100 million for this program.
12- A Protocol of Agreement in the Water Sector. Signed by the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, and the Director General of AFD, Rémy Rioux. Under this agreement, the parties plan to formulate a new support program for the National Water Strategy, which may include budgetary support aimed at enhancing integrated water resource management, with AFD committing to undertake the necessary steps to mobilize €100 million for this program.
13- A Framework Agreement in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors. Signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Ahmed Bouari, and the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests of the French Republic, Annie Genevard. This framework agreement outlines priority cooperation areas between Morocco and France in the agricultural and forestry sectors, contributing to the enhancement of economic, social, and environmental sustainability and the resilience of these sectors to climate change, and may also support agricultural cooperation towards Africa, leveraging Morocco's position as a bridge between France, the European Union, and Africa.
14- A Declaration of Intent for Franco-Moroccan Cooperation in Education 2024-2026. Through this declaration signed by the Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Mohamed Saad Berrada, the French Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, and the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Patrick Hetzel, both parties wish to develop their cooperation for the benefit of the following areas: support for excellence training, support for technical education pathways, strengthening the network of French educational institutions in Morocco, contributing to the teaching of the Arabic language in France, and revitalizing inter-academic partnerships.
15- A Declaration of Intent in the Field of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation. Signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, and the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Patrick Hetzel, this declaration focuses on partnership actions organized around three axes: supporting partnerships in university training, energizing scientific cooperation in priority areas by strengthening ties with businesses, and supporting collaboration on the governance of the higher education, research, and innovation ecosystem through capacity building.
16- A Protocol of Agreement for the Creation of a Franco-Moroccan Research Center (CRFM) with an African Focus. The first of its kind in Africa, this center will be dedicated to training, research, and innovation in cutting-edge fields: artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, renewable energies, hydrogen, and human and social sciences. This protocol was signed by the President of the International University of Rabat, Noureddine Mouaddib, the CEO of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Antoine Petit, and the President of Sorbonne University, Nathalie Drach-Temam.
17- A Declaration of Intent Regarding Cultural Cooperation. Signed by the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. Under this declaration, both parties express their intention to strengthen their cooperation in six areas: cultural and creative industries, books, libraries and Francophonie, exchanges between professionals and supporting mobility, heritage and museums, crafts, and a joint projection towards Africa.
18- A Declaration of Intent for the Support and Structuring of the Ecosystem of the Video Game Cultural and Creative Industry. Signed by the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, and the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, this declaration aims to enhance cooperation by mobilizing French expertise to support the structuring of the video game ecosystem in Morocco and the establishment of a gaming city in Rabat, led by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.
19- A Protocol of Agreement Between OCP Group and AFD in the Field of Decarbonization. Signed by the CEO of OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab, the Director General of AFD, Rémy Rioux, and the Director of International and European Affairs at Bpifrance, Isabelle Bebear. Worth €350 million, the agreement supports OCP Group's decarbonization strategy in Morocco, promotes the development of agricultural and food value chains in Africa through support for OCP's "Agrifinance" platform, fosters partnerships between French companies and OCP Group, and supports training and research in food security.
20- A Joint Development Agreement Between OCP and Engie in the Field of Energy Transition. Signed by the CEO of OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab, and the CEO of Engie, Catherine MacGregor. This agreement will contribute to strengthening the local industrial ecosystem and creating new opportunities for companies and their national and international partners. This agreement covers five projects: "electric transmission network," "green hydrogen," "green electricity," "desalination for agricultural use," and "research and innovation."
21- A Protocol of Agreement Regarding the Extension of the Second Phase of the Taza Wind Farm. Signed by the Director General of ONEE, Tarik Hamane, and Bruno Fyot, Deputy Director General of EDF Renewables, this protocol presents a project for the extension involving the development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the second phase of the Taza wind farm, with an installed capacity of 63 MW.
22- A Protocol of Agreement Between the CMA CGM Group and Tanger Med. This aims to develop a container terminal at Nador West Med under the concession obtained by Marsa Maroc, with a commitment of significant volumes (1.2 million containers) to kickstart the Nador West Med platform and an investment of approximately €258 million. Signed by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Tanger-Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA), Fouad Brini, and the CEO of CMA CGM Group, Rodolphe Saade, this agreement will also support other Moroccan port and logistics projects.
