Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leïla Benali, has called on American companies to invest in the Kingdom's Southern Provinces, highlighting the Moroccan Sahara as a key destination for business opportunities amid strengthening economic ties between Rabat and Washington.
Speaking during a reception hosted by the US Embassy at the historic Chellah site in Rabat on Tuesday to celebrate the United States' National Day, Benali invited American firms to take part in Morocco's ongoing development momentum, including in the Sahara, in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI.
The minister's remarks come as the United States continues to reaffirm its support for Morocco's autonomy initiative as the only basis for a lasting resolution to the regional dispute over the Sahara, while economic cooperation between the two allies continues to expand.
Benali said Morocco and the United States are guided by a shared vision for the future and a common ambition to contribute to more resilient global value chains that benefit both countries and their regions.
She stressed that Rabat will continue working alongside Washington to help build a safer, more stable, and more prosperous world, noting that the two countries cooperate within multilateral frameworks to promote resilience, growth, and shared prosperity.
The minister described the celebration of the American National Day as an opportunity to reaffirm the unique partnership linking Morocco and the United States, recalling that the Kingdom was the first nation to recognize American independence in 1777.
She also highlighted the strategic nature of bilateral relations, which encompass political dialogue, security and defense cooperation, economic exchanges, and cultural and scientific partnerships.
According to Benali, the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement, which has been in force for more than two decades, remains a cornerstone of bilateral economic relations and a powerful driver of investment and job creation.
Her call for increased American investment in the Moroccan Sahara comes as Morocco continues to implement major infrastructure, renewable energy, industrial, and logistics projects across its Southern Provinces as part of a broader strategy to position the region as a gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic.
The invitation also reflects Rabat's efforts to attract international investors to the Sahara, where development projects have accelerated in recent years under the Kingdom's new development model for the region.
Benali's remarks underscored Morocco's ambition to deepen its economic partnership with the United States while expanding investment opportunities in sectors linked to energy transition, industry, logistics, and sustainable development, including in the Moroccan Sahara.
