The EU and Morocco are working together to promote employment and the prosperity of small and medium-sized enterprises, and to act as a catalyst for job creation in the region, Llombart Cussac stated, speaking at the opening of a meeting to mark the visit of ambassadors from the European Union and its member states accredited to Morocco to the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, with a view to inquire about investment opportunities in the region.

Stressing that the visit by this delegation of European diplomats illustrates the contribution of the Morocco-EU partnership to local development, the Ambassador said that this visit, which paves the way for stronger collaboration in various fields, is also an opportunity to inform these diplomats about the many opportunities in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region.

“Our aim is to further develop this partnership with the regions, with a view to tackling common challenges, particularly in terms of youth employment and training in forward-looking professions,” Llombart Cussac told MAP, expressing her ambition to further develop cooperation in the field of tourism as a key sector capable of bringing further growth and economic prosperity for young people and women.

“We've had the privilege of developing several cooperation projects with the European Union, including, the territorial development support project in the advanced regionalization component, which supports the region in implementing reforms linked to decentralization and strengthening the skills of local authorities,” President of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra Regional Council Adil Barakat said, emphasizing that this project is intended to be a real catalyst for more effective and inclusive regional governance.

He also mentioned the PIAFE project, financed by the European Union, which strives to improve access to training and employment for young people in the region, as well as the innovative circular migration and energy efficiency programs run jointly with the European Union.

Barakat then announced is proud to announce the integration of the Regional Council of Béni Mellal-Khénifra into the Open Government Global Network (OGP), noting that this integration testifies to the region's commitment to transparency, citizen participation and accountability.

During their stay in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, members of the delegation will visit the Béni Mellal Agropole, the fruit of a public-private partnership, the Heritage Interpretation Centre at the Aïn Asserdoune tourist site, and the SANAD Cooperative to discover local and traditional local produce. The ambassadors of the EU and its member states accredited to Morocco will also have exchanges with representatives of the region's civil society and youth.