Fez: Inauguration of the new premises of the Consulate General of France and the French Institute

Fez – The renovated headquarters of the Consulate General of France in Fez and the new building of the French Institute were inaugurated on Tuesday.

Speaking during this ceremony, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, highlighted France's orientation towards tangible actions in its relationship with the Kingdom.

"Through the book that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has called on us to write, we want every line to resonate concretely and be part of a reality and not just words," he specified, stressing that this renovated site is a tangible and solid reality.

Regarding the renovation of the historic building of the Consulate General in Fez, Mr. Lecourtier noted that this infrastructure "will be a lasting part of the urban landscape and the history of the city of Fez."

He described the project as a "strategic choice" aimed at "strengthening France's presence in Fez in all its administrative, cultural, educational, and human dimensions."

The diplomat specified that the site will improve the reception of French nationals while symbolising France's investment in the concrete development of a cooperation relationship with Morocco.

The renovation project, which lasted two years, reflects, according to Lecourtier, "the place the city occupies in diplomacy" and the "dynamism of relations with the Kingdom of Morocco."

He recalled that France is the only country to maintain a fully operational consulate in Fez, a sign of a desire to be present for its nationals and to strengthen ties with a city with a rich historical and intellectual heritage, stressing that the new site has been restructured according to current standards, taking into account the identity of Fez.

In a statement to the MAP, the Director General of the French Institute in Morocco, Agnès Humruzian, stressed that the grouping of consular and cultural services aims to create a functional space for French citizens needing administrative services and for the Moroccan public interested in cultural and educational activities.

"The building houses consular services, a media library managed by the French Institute, and a language centre," she specified, stressing that it is planned to eventually host the Campus France teams, which guide Moroccan students towards studies in France.

In parallel, the French Institute in Fez will maintain its "outside the walls" activities in collaboration with its local educational, cultural, and associative partners.

For her part, the Consul General of France in Fez, Carine Foeller Viallon, stressed that this inauguration marks "a new page" for the French presence in the city.

She described this new site as "a promise," that of a presence that is both "institutional," at the service of French nationals, and "human," aiming to "bring to life the dialogue between French and Moroccan cultures."

Ms. Foeller Viallon insisted on the "very deep meaning" that this cultural dimension confers on the mission of the Consulate and the Institute, beyond its administrative functions.

Officials from the French Consulate in Fez believe that this inauguration will mark an important step in strengthening ties between France and Morocco, within a regional dynamic, and paves the way for numerous future initiatives, such as the event dedicated to the traditional art of Al Halqa organised soon in the garden adjoining the Institute. This initiative involves about twenty classes whose pupils have carried out work as part of an ecological project titled "REGARDENOUS".

The inauguration ceremony also took place in the presence of the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, Governor of the Fez Prefecture, Mr. Mouaad Jamai, the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, Abdelouahed El Ansari, the President of the Fez Communal Council, Abdeslam Bekkali, and representatives of the French community.