France-Morocco/ Perspectives of decentralized cultural cooperation highlighted during an online seminar

The prospects for cooperation in the cultural field between Morocco and France were highlighted on Tuesday during an online seminar organized in the framework of the Joint Support Mechanism for Decentralized Franco-Moroccan Cooperation.

This virtual meeting was organized by the General Directorate of Territorial Communities of the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the Delegation for External Action of Territorial Communities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French Embassy in Morocco and Cités Unies France under the theme "Decentralized Franco-Moroccan cooperation in favour of cultural development in the territories : sharing experiences".

It was marked by the participation of Moroccan and French officials, local elected officials, actors and managers of decentralized cultural cooperation projects in both countries.

The various speakers highlighted the promising prospects for this cooperation, particularly in the wake of the cultural dynamic that the Kingdom has been experiencing for several years.

The meeting was opened by Abdelouahhab El Jabri, Governor in charge of Cooperation and Documentation at the General Directorate of Local Authorities.The meeting was opened by Abdelouahhab El Jabri, Governor in charge of Cooperation and Documentation at the General Directorate of Territorial Communities (DGCT), who stressed the importance of this webinar as it deals with themes of common interest for the territories and their populations in both countries.

Decentralized cooperation for cultural development is topical given the essential role of culture in achieving the objectives of sustainable development, through the conservation and management of cultural heritage and its use for the enhancement and promotion of cultural and creative industries, he stressed.

This webinar aims to strengthen efforts for the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage but also to create a local dynamic serving the attractiveness of the territories by federating the efforts of Moroccan and French local authorities along withOther partners, he said, noting that culture gives impetus to the economic dimension, provides income and employment and is a driving force in the development process of territories in addition to providing instruments to combat poverty and facilitate citizen participation and equal opportunities.

For her part, Anne-Marie Mevel-Reingold, Chargé de Mission to the Ambassador for the External Action of Territorial Communities, stressed that despite the context of the health crisis, the two countries have been able to develop a strategy to combat poverty and to facilitate citizen participation and equal opportunities.velopment of their cooperation thanks to cyberspace, as shown by this seminar, adding that the Covid-19 crisis has reinforced the legitimacy of decentralized cooperation in various fields.

According to her, cultural cooperation with Morocco represents 53 listed projects that touch on a wide range of fields, including built heritage, reading, festivals, music and artistic creation.

Mevel-Reingold said that culture in Morocco within French cooperation occupies third place and represents 12.57% behind education and training, territorial attractiveness and ahead of water and waste.

The exchanges during this seminar focused, among other things, on the contribution of the Institut Français du Maroc to decentralized Franco-Moroccan cooperation, cultural heritage and creative industries as vectors of development.velopment through the experience of the city of Essaouira, and the current experiences of decentralized cultural cooperation, particularly in the case of the regions of Occitania and the Oriental region through the example of book promotion.

They also dealt with cooperation on the structuring of a public service dedicated to culture in the case of the city of Chenôve and the municipality of Chefchaouen, as well as cooperation on the development of a cultural centre in the city of Essaouira.between the Regional Council of Fès-Meknès and the Regional Council of Centre-Val-de-Loire through the presentation of the "Aux arts lycéens" programme.

Source: www.mapexpress.ma