I am proud of what Phosboucraa has achieved. Just as our products feed the soil to ultimately feed the planet, our economic and social Investments have helped our local communities to flourish.

The Phosboucraa that I joined 34 years ago has undergone a massive transformation while also remaining rooted locally. To achieve both of these is phenomenal. In fact, it has become more local than ever.

Nonetheless, I am convinced that the best is yet to come. I know for a fact that this marks a new era for the company and for my region. We shall generate much greater value and so create more jobs and have more funds to invest locally.

Yet it is when I look at the young men and women graduating by hundreds from our training centers that I am the proudest. They will not only ensure continuity, but our continuing improvement. I always get a chuckle when I think of them looking back to 34 years ago!

When I first joined the Phosboucraa team as a young engineer from Laayoune back in 1982, the phosphate market was relatively stable with low prices and we were seen as a simple mining firm. Since then, a lot has changed.

The perception of the industry has changed because the stakes have changed. Indeed, we all understand today the importance of responsible fertilization in a world where both the population and its purchasing power are growing at a pace never seen before. Second, the markets have changed because globalization has transformed world trade and has triggered a new era of global economic integration.

Yet, today’s markets are more and more volatile – only the fittest can thrive. Those industry players unable to adapt, unable to invest, unable to innovate or even unable to endure are simply put out of business.

Today, being a competitive company in the extractive industry requires massive investments, know-how, rigor, vision and most of all, it requires dedicated and highly qualified teams. Our most valuable asset is our people. After all, ore deposits only become an asset when you have the skills and expertise to create shared value out of them, for the benefit of the region and its inhabitants.