In an interview with MAP, on the sidelines of the 13th "The Atlantic Dialogues" annual international conference, hosted by the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) in Rabat, Vallaud-Belkacem emphasized Morocco's prominent role at several levels in Africa, thanks to the Kingdom's socio-economic development model.

The former French Minister of Education also highlighted Morocco's exceptional economic growth and societal progress, such as the latest constitutional reform and the Family Code reform.

Speaking on Moroccan expatriates, the former Minister highlighted the importance of the Council of Moroccan Community Living Abroad, as an innovative body that "maintains connections with Moroccans worldwide, promotes their value, and enhances their global profile."

"What I've noticed recently is that more and more Moroccan expatriates are deciding to move back to Morocco," she pointed out. "This shows the country's evolution, its influence and the increasingly important place it occupies internationally."

In this respect, she said that there is "a twofold phenomenon": on the one hand, the Moroccan expatriates who decide to return to Morocco, and on the other, Moroccans born in the Kingdom who have moved abroad. 

The latter, she explained, hold “impressive positions” all over the world, particularly in cutting-edge scientific fields in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere.

On the global scale, Vallaud-Belkacem highlighted that a revision of long-standing rules is currently underway, particularly in areas such as world trade, development financing, and the fight against climate change.

These rules, she maintained, have traditionally been shaped by the North, and it is "always encouraging when a country from the South, like Morocco, can step up and play a role on par with that of the North." In doing so, Morocco serves as a powerful ambassador for the South in global affairs, she concluded. 

This 2024 edition of "Atlantic Dialogues" addresses a variety of economic and geopolitical topics, reflecting the transformations of an expanded and integrated Atlantic, through panels, roundtables and other collaborative sessions.

Topics include cultural diplomacy, the regional security paradigm, smart infrastructure, the regulation of artificial intelligence, and other critical issues requiring enhanced North-South coordination, while offering a diverse range of perspectives and solutions on global governance challenges.