Nice: French President Emmanuel Macron hailed His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s “strong” and “clear” commitment to promoting Africa’s blue economy, at the opening of the “Africa for the Ocean” Summit in Nice on Monday, which he co-chaired along with HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa, Representative of His Majesty the King.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Macron took the opportunity to thank the Kingdom of Morocco for organizing the summit and involving France in “this initiative on issues that are essential for the African continent and for all of us.” The French President also praised the message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, read out on His behalf by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa. “These words are both powerful and clear on the strategy to be pursued-and one that we share.”
President Macron highlighted His Majesty the King’s Atlantic Initiative to provide landlocked African countries with ocean access, reflecting a shared vision. He recalled that twenty years ago, HM King Mohammed VI launche
d the Tanger Med project, now the most important port in the Mediterranean. Macron noted that next year the construction of the Dakhla Port will mark a new era for the Atlantic Ocean and the determination to connect the continent to the ocean.
Macron emphasized the significance of the summit being held under the joint banner of Morocco and France, two nations with a shared coastline, history, and commitment to a common future.
The “Africa for the Ocean” Summit, part of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference 2025, provided a platform for dialogue on Africa’s development opportunities through ocean resources, while ensuring responsible governance of marine spaces. The summit focused on securing financing for modern infrastructure, ocean governance, fish stock management, and improving connectivity between coastal and landlocked countries.
President Macron emphasized Morocco’s African leadership driven by the Sovereign, “whose consistent efforts in ocean governance, the fight against plastic pollution, and r
egional cooperation serve as a model across the continent.