Morocco's development will boost the Mediterranean region

Josep María Gómez, head of International Development at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, spoke exclusively to Atalayar's microphones during the Regional Logistics Meetings held in Tetouan, Morocco. 

Mr. Gómez, what have you learned from this day, in these regional logistics meetings organised in partnership with Investangier, the Regional Investment Centre of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region? 

First of all, I would like to thank, obviously, all the support received by Investangier, both in the organisation and in all aspects of logistics. The Chamber of Commerce has always had Morocco as one of its main trading partners. It has always been one of the focus countries and has accompanied numerous companies in this market.  

This day has helped us to see once again the brutal development that is taking place in the area. Development in terms of infrastructures, logistics and human resources. There is energy here, something important is happening and having to be present in some way is almost obligatory for entities like us.

It shows that, from collaboration and coordination, better than confrontation and misunderstood competitiveness, opportunities arise and it is beneficial for all parties. 

Moreover, it can be extrapolated to our environment. We have come here with a group of people in charge of different entities. We have the Port of Barcelona, we have Mercabarna, we have organisations such as PIMEC. All of us together can do much more work, with much greater impact, than if we do it individually.

I was referring, moreover, not only among yourselves, but also with Morocco. There are times when Morocco is viewed with some suspicion when it turns out that modernisation in Morocco is booming and, above all, the interests, such as geostrategic interests, which are common and also from an economic and commercial point of view. Tangier Med is an example. When Spanish ports began to collaborate with Tangier Med, all have benefited. 

Yes, the collaboration with Morocco is important and should be even greater. Historically, geographically and now economically, obviously. This is helping us considerably to go together to two very important markets: Europe and Africa.

Have you taken any business or any sector or any specific idea from this day, from your contacts with the Moroccan representatives? 

Where we believe there are good opportunities, and they have been reflected here, is precisely in those companies, Moroccan and Spanish, that are not only working in logistics, but in the modernisation of logistics. Blockchain companies, warehouse automation, all the IoT (Internet of Things) technology, which is being applied precisely in ports. It is a fundamental line of work to work on other interesting aspects, collaborations with freight forwarders, collaborations with customs agents, which will help to facilitate any problems they may have in customs in both countries. 

In addition to good business, Tangier offers a good quality of life. There is fundamental legal security, political stability, and then there are good schools for children, hospitals, restaurants, sports... 

The truth is that what we have been seeing here is wonderful. Let's say that it combines the best of both countries, and it is also a privileged location. The food, the infrastructures, very important, roads, but also hospitals, schools... 

The connectivity, the transport, you arrive in Tangier and with the high speed train you are in Casablanca in two hours, or the airport, or all that kind of connection that is always good for a businessman. 

It is excellent. We are in an environment in which not only the economic sphere is important, but also, obviously, the personal wellbeing that can be felt here.

You mentioned earlier, and I do not want to overlook this, the issue of training. There is a new generation, we may have the cliché of the pateras and so on, but the reality is that there is a new generation of Moroccans, but also of Africans, who are training, who want to prosper, who want to have a better life, and who, for Europe, bearing in mind that we are an increasingly ageing society, may be the solution: well-trained people, with a desire to work and a desire to progress. 

Of course, one of the lines that we are working on very directly is with companies in the auxiliary industry. You know that most of the Spanish business fabric is made up of small and medium-sized companies. The main problem of this type of company is that they cannot find highly qualified personnel to work in these companies.  

Welcome, to be honest, because having this workforce, and moreover with the desire, as we have seen here, to be able to have training and to be able to join these companies, is essential. It is essential to be able to continue growing. If not, it will be very complicated.

Mr Gómez, would you recommend to your members of the Chamber that they come here to explore, to see, to feel out what options, what opportunities they have in the different sectors? 

Absolutely. It is one of the activities we usually do. When we detect that there is a region, that there is an interesting area, we have been there with companies that have come precisely for that, to explore opportunities for investment, collaboration, sales... and they have done so precisely because of these conditions. This is a categorical yes. 

And let's not forget the Investment Charter, which has opened up facilities for investment... 

Absolutely. We visited different Spanish companies located in this area, and the facilities are many, apart from this legal security.