فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati announced on Monday in Laayoune the establishment of an “Alliance Française” in the city, with the goal of injecting new dynamism into cultural cooperation between France and Morocco, particularly in the Southern Provinces.
“We want this Alliance to become a resource center and a prominent place for cultural cooperation between France and Morocco,” Dati affirmed during a meeting dedicated to presenting the Alliance project.
Dati, accompanied by the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, and local officials and cultural figures, noted that this Alliance will benefit children, students, teachers, and trainers in the region. It will also open doors to various cultural activities, including language learning, artist exchanges, and educational programs.
“We will also encourage the provision of French cultural offerings and high-quality language courses, by supporting the opening of this Alliance Française in Laayoune,” Dati added, stressing that the project is “ambitious and symbolic.”
She explained that these cultural projects are part of concrete cooperation between France and Morocco, implementing commitments made by French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI in October 2024.
“Our cultural cooperation in this region reflects a strong commitment from France,” Dati affirmed, adding that cooperation agreements in media, heritage, cinema, and cultural and creative industries will be concluded.
Dati also expressed her admiration for Morocco’s efforts toward the economic and social development of the region and the quality of infrastructure in the Laayoune-Sakia Al Hamra region, reflecting the King’s vision for the development of the Southern Provinces.
She mentioned that France organized a successful international summit on artificial intelligence, expressing her admiration for meeting young Moroccan entrepreneurs in the field.
“These Moroccan talents represent an added value for France, and we hope that there will be more exchange, especially through granting visas to young artists to promote cultural diversity and strengthen artistic exchanges,” she said.
Bensaid noted that this visit is the first of its kind by a French minister to the Southern Provinces, reflecting the historical depth of Franco-Moroccan relations in their cultural dimension.
He also pointed out that cultural industries represent an investment in human development and job creation, explaining that the population of the Southern Provinces, especially young people, will benefit from this cultural industry.
Earlier that day, Dati and Bensaid visited the Mohammed VI Grand Library in Laayoune, considered one of the most important cultural landmarks in the country. They also visited the Kasbah of Tarfaya and the “Casa del Mar” site, a fortress built in 1882 by Scottish explorer Donald Mackenzie, which will undergo restoration work. Afterward, they visited the Saint-Exupéry Museum (1900-1944), honoring the French writer and aviator who left his mark on the history of the region and stayed in the house that has been transformed into a museum visited by tourists from around the world.
