An international research seminar on the theme of “territorial autonomy: the promotion of foreign direct investment”, held in New York Monday provided a platform to compare the Morocco-proposed Autonomy Initiative for the Sahara region with other autonomy experiences in the world, particularly with regard to the promotion of foreign direct investments in the autonomous regions and enhancement of economic development of local populations. It was attended by around fifty diplomats, including several ambassadors in New York, senior UN officials and media accredited to the United Nations. The Moroccan Autonomy initiative offers more power and prerogatives to local authorities and to the local population, they outlined. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, they recalled, Morocco is the 9th country that attracted the most foreign direct investment in Africa, in 2021. The ambassador also cited the support of more than 18 European countries for the Moroccan initiative, 15 of which are members of the European Union, which proves the credibility and seriousness of the Moroccan Autonomy initiative and thus enhanced the Moroccan Sahara’s standing as an economic engine and a privileged hub in West Africa and the transatlantic space.
