France and Morocco compromise on relocation

French electrictiy company EDF signed a 57-million-euro solar and wind-power deal with its Moroccan counterpart but plans to build a TGV high-speed train line between Tangiers and Casablanca have been put off to a later date.

Whilst several French companies had outsourced activities to Morocco, especially call centres,France  is now keen to stop the relocation trend,RFI reports.

The preferred option is for  companies relocate parts of their business activities abroad in order to develop activities with higher added value in France. There is also a move to encourage FrancoMoroccan in subsaharan Africa, the Gulf andthe Middle East.However French companies are continuing to outsource to Morroco.In July the Paris Transport Syndicate (Stif) transferred a call centre to Morroco with the loss of 80 jobsin France..

During his two day visit  Jean-Marc Ayrault . The French Prime Minister was accompanied by eight ministers, including Laurent Fabius minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Valls Minister of (Interior) and Arnaud Montebourg Minister for Recovery of Production. Montebourg's statements  on call centres earlier in the year shocked Morocco but the emphasis is now on joint cooperation. There was an acceptance that  French investments  in Morocco can have a positive effect on the French economy providied the addedvalue is shared.