Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this international economic forum is organized this year by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) in partnership with the Alliance of Francophone Employers (APF).
This conclave, which is attended by presidents and representatives of French-speaking employers’ associations, members of the Alliance des Patronats Francophones (APF), of which the CGEM provides the General Secretariat, intends to connect companies in French-speaking countries to boost trade and encourage investment.
This meeting is also intended to be a platform for exchanges between business leaders and institutions around different subjects, including strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs, promoting trade and the free movement of goods and services, logistical and connectivity challenges, business growth and responses to the challenges generated by digital developments and artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the opening of this event, the Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, indicated that this meeting offers a common horizon and an essential support point to open up new perspectives for development, prosperity and solidarity in the French-speaking world.
The economic Francophonie is a powerful lever for growth in a constantly changing world, he said, adding that “it is up to us to optimize logistics corridors to promote trade between our countries, to invest in skills to increase tenfold the potential of our economies, and to seize the opportunities offered by the ecological transition of our world.”
In terms of investment, “companies from our country are particularly active within the French-speaking area,” says Mr. Jazouli, noting that in 2023, nearly 2 billion euros were invested by Moroccan companies in French-speaking countries, or 3/4 of Moroccan direct investments abroad.
Likewise, Morocco is the leading African investor in West Africa, and the second African investor in Africa, the minister said.
For his part, the president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Chakib Alj noted that the increase in trade between French-speaking countries on the African continent requires the adoption of policies to diversify production and accelerate industrialization while taking advantage of the enormous potential available in terms of renewable energy.
Building sustainable and innovative African industrial ecosystems must be done through win-win co-investments with SMEs as the driving force, he said, noting that these value chains will enable all countries in the French-speaking world to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides access to a unified market of 1.2 billion consumers, which resolves the problem of high customs tariffs.
For his part, the president of the Alliance of French-speaking Employers, Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, recalled that the multilateral and international Alliance aims to strengthen the links between French-speaking businesses and economies in a concrete and operational manner.
On this occasion, he noted the expansion of the Alliance, which saw the addition of eight new members, calling for greater cooperation between States and the private sector and for promoting innovation and sustainable development to ensure a prosperous future for all.
As for Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), she noted that this organization remains the supporter and catalyst of the French-speaking space and remains alongside the Alliance of French-speaking Employers to promote the economy, stimulate innovation, strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit and support the circular economy.
The French-speaking world is called upon to share more experiences and good practices, she said, stressing the need to work towards capacity building and inclusive collaboration with the various stakeholders, existing professional networks and civil society.
The agenda for this meeting includes several round tables focusing in particular on ways to promote the French-speaking area and tools to strengthen commercial exchanges between its members.
2024-09-20 19:20:23