Dialogue, qualified personnel and exports, the driving force behind Moroccan-Barcelona relations
The growth of maritime activity in the Mediterranean region, together with the stoppage of traffic in the Suez Canal and the events in the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, have strengthened the position of the Port of Tangier Med and the Port of Barcelona. For this reason, hundreds of Moroccan and Catalan businessmen attended the Barcelona Business Meeting under the slogan "Investing in Morocco, a competitive bet to explore new markets".
- Morocco, a logistics platform
- Catalonia's position
- Spain has been Morocco's largest trading partner for the past 11 years
The meeting, organised by the main employers' organisation in Catalonia, the National Confederation for the Promotion of Employment, and the Moroccan-Spanish Economic Council (CEMAES), in collaboration with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) and the Catalan employers' organisation Foment, will further strengthen the momentum of the measures adopted to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.
The opening ceremony of this economic forum took place in the presence, among others, of Rebeca Mariola Torro, Spanish Minister of Industry, and Ali Seddiqi, Secretary General of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). Prominent business leaders were present, including the president of the Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Chakib Alj, the co-presidents of the Moroccan-Spanish Economic Council, Adil Rais and Clemente González Soler, and the Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich.
The event was inaugurated by Mohcine Jazouli, Morocco's Minister Delegate to the Head of Government for Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, who made it clear that relations "of a priority nature between Morocco and Spain, specifically with Catalonia" are reflected in the more than 50 signatures in free trade agreements that affect more than 2.5 billion people around the world.
Morocco, a logistics platform
Morocco has not only strengthened traditional industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and tourism to increase competitiveness, but has also boosted emerging sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries. The Moroccan delegation highlighted, on this occasion, the attractiveness of the Morocco platform, the revitalisation of private investment following the enactment of the new Investment Charter and the continued support provided by the authorities to investors.
Morocco is in a very positive dynamic. The North African nation has a young, qualified and competitive talent pool. The average age is 29, compared to 44.4 in Europe, and they have a competitive and high quality workforce with more than 180,000 university graduates per year, 19,000 of whom have engineering degrees.
"Our country has built world-class infrastructures, including the port of Tangier-Med, the first container port in the Mediterranean and Africa, and has established itself as a dynamic power in the economic sphere thanks to young and qualified experts fully equipped to meet the demands of the labour market," Mohcine Jazouli.
Indeed, as Jazouli points out, Morocco is strategically positioned to benefit from the reorganisation of the value chain and has a key role to play in global decarbonisation efforts.
Jazouli highlighted that trade between Morocco and Spain exceeded 20 billion euros for the first time, which represents a significant growth rate, and that the joint efforts of the two countries have allowed a five-fold increase in trade in the last 20 years. Since the joint roadmap was adopted in April 2022, bilateral trade has increased by 40%.
Catalonia's position
Catalonia, with its strong and highly diversified economy, is a driving force in Spain's socio-economic development, and the port of Barcelona, which plays a key role in the region, complements the outstanding performance of Catalan companies in various sectors.
Catalonia, as a region, has demonstrated outstanding performance over a long period of time, including in the automotive, food, pharmaceutical, chemical, healthcare, transport, tourism and renewable energy industries.
With its strategic location, strong industrial ecosystem and dynamic pool of entrepreneurs and talent, Catalonia is now recognised as one of the world's research and development hubs, offering additional opportunities for growth and prosperity.
"As an autonomous community with the second highest GDP and one of the most dynamic regions in the country, Catalonia plays an important role in shaping Spain's economic future," said Jazouli. In this regard, he pointed out that Catalonia offers excellent investment and co-investment prospects for Moroccan companies and, conversely, that this Spanish autonomous community is one of the most competitive in southern Europe, representing 25% of Spanish industry.
Spain has been Morocco's largest trading partner for the past 11 years
At the same time, Morocco is Spain's second largest non-European partner and the largest African partner. "Trade relations between the two countries are characterised by a very positive dynamic, political will, proximity, favourable business environment, extraordinary economic complementarities and the outstanding and confirmed enthusiasm of business leaders," said Chakib Alj, president of CGEM
The Spanish Secretary of State for Industry, Rebeca Mariola Torro Soler, highlighted the importance of Spain's economic relations with Morocco, noting that Morocco is consolidating itself as a "priority" country for its development and international expansion. "Morocco has a favourable investment climate and is consolidating itself as a preferred destination for international investment in the industrial and energy sectors," said Soler.
In parallel, the extensions of the Moroccan High Speed Trains (TGD), will be reviewed in the Basque Country at the facilities of TALGO, a Spanish company with possibilities of being awarded the trains that will connect the cities of Agadir and Marrakech to the TGD circuit.
The economic meeting demonstrated the solid diplomatic relations and economic partnership between Morocco and Spain, confirming the commitment of both friendly countries to continue promoting and facilitating business opportunities.
