The presentation ceremony was initiated by the Dakhla National School of Business and Management (ENCG), in partnership with the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Regional Council, and was attended by a host of academics, researchers, students, elected representatives and associations, as well as consuls general accredited to Dakhla.

The 352-page book is divided into six chapters: “Historical landmarks”, “The southern provinces”, “An astonishing potential”, “Infrastructure to boost development”, “An economic dynamic driven by competitive clusters”, and “Moroccan Sahara, Atlantic hub and leader of a prosperous Africa - Major projects for the Morocco of tomorrow”.

The illustrated book offers a fresh look at the Sahara and the current development momentum, as the author stands as an “observer” of public policies, who discovers the scale of achievements contributing to bettering the life of local populations.

In his book, Heydt opens with tracing the history of this geographical area back to millennia-old origins, before painting a picture of the current situation in light of advanced regionalization, emphasizing Sahara today as a land of growth, social inclusion and regional solidarity.

The author also highlights the importance of the achieved road, airport and port infrastructure projects, as well as the region's potential in terms of renewables and the promotion of green hydrogen.

He focused in particular on the impact of major projects such as the Dakhla Port, destined to play a key role in the transport of green electricity, thus making Dakhla an Atlantic hub and a leader in a prosperous Africa.

In a statement to the press, Heydt said he was delighted to be in Dakhla to present his new book on Moroccan Sahara, noting that the book highlights the virtuous dynamic witnessed in southern provinces.

The publication sheds light on the significant advancements in the Kingdom's southern provinces, based on reliable historical evidence of the Sahara's Moroccan identity, he continued.

 His book also brings forward the remarkable growth of the Moroccan Sahara on all fronts, particularly in the economic sphere and in terms of renewable energy production.

 Jean-Marie Heydt is a professor and researcher, observer and international expert for public organizations. He is the author of several recent books, including "Mohammed VI, the Vision of a King: Actions and Ambitions" (2019).