Jalal Benhayoun defends public-private investment and the potential of northern Morocco
Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region in Valencia increases the interest of entrepreneurs in undertaking new investments and businesses
Jalal Benhayoun, Director General of the Regional Investment Center of the Region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (CRITTA), at the opening of Doing Business in Valencia, highlighted the consolidation of economic relations between Spain and Morocco, the importance of public-private collaboration and the opportunities that the north of his country offers to Valencian investors.
Strengthening trade and economic ties between the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region and the Valencian Community and showing the possibilities offered by this Moroccan area for investors are some of the objectives of the Doing Business: "Investing in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region: a business potential open to the world", held in the auditorium of the Port Authority of Valencia.
After words of thanks to the collaborators, sponsors and attendees to this event by the moderator, Tatiana Estevez Salmerón, gave way to the intervention of Jalal Benhayoun, general director of the Regional Investment Center of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, who stressed the importance of this fifth meeting of Doing Business to talk about the territorial offer of investments in the region, the opportunities it offers, the relations between operators and the need to promote private and public investment.
Benhayoun also wanted to thank the support received by companies and institutions for the celebration of this initiative, especially the Port Authority and the Consul of Morocco in Valencia for their commitment from the beginning for the organization of the event.
"We are very proud of this collective mobilization that shows the relations between two regions and the shared commitment to a near future driven by development and fruitful economic and cultural exchanges," Benhayoun stressed.
An example of his words is the data yielded in 2023 where trade, he said, reached an all-time high with 17.4 million euros.
The general director of the Regional Investment Center of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region also wanted to emphasize that this dynamism is not only due to the geographical proximity, but also to the common points that both regions have in industry, logistics, sustainable development... A bilateral development, he pointed out, that consolidates economic relations and opens new opportunities.
He also recalled how Spanish companies are increasingly present in Morocco, in sectors such as automotive, agri-food or digital industry, but also Moroccan companies in Spain.
A fact that is due to the geographical situation, "we are only 14 km away, it is a privileged destination", but also to the free market trade with Morocco and other African countries or to the infrastructures.
Finally, Benhayoun put at the disposal of Spanish businessmen the teams of the Regional Investment Center, its one-stop shop and facilities and its experience to help them when implementing their investments and assured that the infrastructures they have and the workforce guarantee the requirements of investors.
Thus, since 2020, they have approved and supported 1,700 projects that add up to an investment of some 18 billion euros. "I am confident that this meeting will allow us to discover all the the possibilities of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region," he concluded.
"Future growth passes through Africa"
Said Drissi El Bouzaidi, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Valencia, rasladó the desire of the Ambassador of Morocco in Spain that the meeting will be beneficial for all, he emphasized the importance of this Doing Business to strengthen economic relations and build solid bridges that allow the two countries to move towards a prosperous future.
He recalled the growth that trade has experienced in recent years and that places Spain as the first partner in Morocco and Morocco of Spain outside the EU.
He also highlighted that his country is the first African investor in the continent, with banks present in 20 countries and with important projects such as the Atlantic Port of Dakhla. "Future growth passes through Africa," he affirmed.
As for the two regions, Tangier and Valencia, the consul highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit and the much they have to offer with their large ports and their common points in sectors such as tourism, automotive or agri-food, as well as the great potential in other sectors such as renewable energies, which offer, he said, possibilities for collaboration.
"Events like today's allow us to support companies in their internationalization processes," said the consul, who put the consulate at the disposal of Valencian businessmen.
The president of the CGEM Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and co-president of CEMAES, Adil Rais, reiterated the important relations between Spain and Morocco with a trade that in 2023 grew by 11%, which accounted for about 20,000 million euros, an upward trend that continues this year.
He spoke of collaboration in sectors such as the automotive sector, in which many parts come from Spain.
Many parts come from Spain; the textile sector, where Spanish companies design and produce the
companies design and Moroccan
In this sense, he highlighted that in Morocco there are 800 Spanish companies that generate 30,000 direct jobs, Spain being the fourth largest investor in Morocco, "which reflects the strength between the two countries" he said, without forgetting that together they will organize the 2030 World Cup.
"We try to help Spanish companies that want to come to Morocco, but also Moroccan companies that want to go to Europe and even Latin America," said Adil Rais, who also showed his desire to work more with Valencian entrepreneurs, as he assured that Morocco offers many possibilities for it to be a great bet and that they are there to help them.
"A solid and deep collaboration"
Abdelhamid El Hsissen, president of the Commission for Economic Development and Investment and Tourism Promotion of the Regional Council of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, highlighted the progress of relations between Spain and Morocco based on trust to build a future of prosperity.
The objective of the meeting, he said, is to boost the economy of the territory highlighting the geographical position of the region and the Tangier Med port, a fundamental piece for the handling of goods, as well as to strengthen human and business ties with the rest of the world, especially Spain "with whom we have a solid and deep collaboration".
On the other hand, he announced that they have 21 zones of industrial activities, and that they offer territory for new projects in the region. "The companies have a lot to offer and they are ready," El Hsissen assured.
Vicente Farach, counselor of the Council of the Chambers of Commerce of the Valencian Community and honorary consul of Morocco, highlighted the commitment to promote investment and trade relations between the two regions, "of great relevance for both countries, which enjoy splendid commercial and diplomatic relations".
Farach affirmed that we are twinned by economy, culture and families, and that it is necessary to consolidate this link between the national and regional Chambers of Commerce: "We are obliged to understand and help each other".
He also referred to the importance of sustainability or digitalization and advocated the joint implementation of the largest possible number of companies "that will lead us to a sustained balance". Finally, he defended the effective rapprochement between both regions, a collaboration in which "the Chambers are a reference".
Ignacio de Julián Mínguez, Deputy Director of Casa Mediterráneo, closed the speeches, offering the institution he represents to create links and ties between all the countries of the Mediterranean.
Throughout this meeting, details were offered on the facilities for investment in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, the advantages and offers of support for the internationalization of companies and different success stories will be presented.
There were also several workshops on tourism, renewable energies, advisory services, training and administrative processes of installation, agri-food, automotive, other industries and logistics.
This meeting was organized by the Regional Investment Center of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Morocco-Tangier, the Consulate of Morocco-Tangier, the Consulate of Morocco-Tangier and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Morocco-Tangier. Morocco-Tangier, the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Valencia, the Council of the Tangier-Tangier Council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, the Morocco-Spain Economic Council Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) of the Tanger region (CGEM) of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, the Chamber of Commerce of Valencia, the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community-CEV, the Valencian Institute of Institute for Business Competitiveness IVACE and the Port Authority of Valencia.
