Morocco's leadership over the rest of the Maghreb is increasing
Morocco is experiencing a sweet moment. In addition to its increasingly stronger political stance on the Sahara dispute, its economic growth is widening the gap between Morocco and other countries in the Maghreb region. With the increase in domestic demand as the main driver, economic data reflect significant growth compared to previous years, especially in the primary sector.
- Domestic demand drives the Moroccan economy
- A reconciliation with many benefits
- Economic cooperation, but not at any price
Domestic demand drives the Moroccan economy
The High Commission for Planning (HCP) reported a growth rate of 8.1 per cent in domestic demand in the fourth quarter of last year. This is a very good indicator for the Moroccan economy, especially considering that, in the same period of 2022, domestic demand did not grow less, it fell by 1.6%.
The contribution of this increase in demand to national economic growth is 9.4 points, according to the HCP. This comes on top of some of the best news in the financial sector, namely the increase in gross investment compared to the previous year. At the end of 2023, it rose by almost 20%, which compares favourably with the fall at the end of 2022, when it declined by 4.1%. In fact, it contributed 6.6 points to the growth of the economy at the national level.
A reconciliation with many benefits
Morocco's and France's economic performance has been very uneven, which has led to the fact that Rabat is now the focus of the Elysée's attention. After a difficult diplomatic period, the French and Moroccans seem ready to put their differences behind them in order to become the best partners they once were. To this end, it is France that is looking to Morocco for support from the regional leader.
The Alawi kingdom, for its part, is reaching out to Paris. They know that a partnership with the country presided over by Emmanuel Macron can be very beneficial, even though the data make it clear that Morocco has far outgrown any hint of dependence on the Gauls. France is stepping up its efforts to improve relations, as evidenced by the series of trips planned by the French government for several of its ministers.
The first was the French foreign trade minister, Franck Riester, who held a meeting with Ryad Mezzour, Morocco's minister of industry and trade. Mezzour himself said that this meeting was part of a strategy to analyse "the commercial process for Moroccan and French businessmen and to facilitate access for mutual or specific products from both countries to European, African and world markets".
Riester, for his part, also stressed the need to establish a strong partnership between the two countries in order to face common challenges such as "economic transition, decarbonisation, mobility and digital transition". However, France, which is the main stakeholder in regaining its friendship with the pace-setter in North Africa, must take the step that Rabat has long been yearning for, namely support for the proposal for Sahrawi autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
Economic cooperation, but not at any price
Morocco is in a position of power. It knows that its growth is attracting a lot of attention, that more and more countries have Rabat on their wish list for agreements and, precisely for this reason, France must do its part to regain the ground it lost with crises such as the visa crisis.
And Paris knows what the next step is. If they want to become - or become again - Morocco's closest partner, the Sahara is an unavoidable issue. And in this regard, a key figure appears, that of the French ambassador in Rabat, Christophe Lecourtier. It is he himself who is lobbying his government to support the Moroccan proposal because, he says, "everyone in Paris knows and understands the fundamental nature of the Kingdom, yesterday, today and tomorrow". And Morocco's nature, as allies such as the United States, Spain, Germany and Israel have already made clear, is to recognise the Moroccan nature of the Sahara.