Spain and Portugal guests of honour at Casablanca Business Forum
The Moroccan Business Instance organised a webinar on Thursday 21 March to present the Business Forum that will take place on 17 and 18 May in Casablanca.
- Casablanca Business Forum
- SMEs, a lever for economic development in the Moroccan-Iberian region
- Programme and modes of participation
- What is the Moroccan Enterprise Commission?
After the success of the first 2023 edition, whose guest of honour was Spain, the Moroccan Business Instance presented the new edition of this business meeting that will bring together this year businessmen from the three hosts of the 2030 World Cup: Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
Both Iberian neighbours will be the guests of honour at the second edition of the Business Forum. This is a very important event for the economic actors of the three countries to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration and cooperation.
It is also an opportunity to seek solutions to the current challenges they face together in an increasingly globalised world economy.
The president of the Moroccan Business Instance, Rachid Ouardighi, clarified, in this webinar, that "Morocco is the privileged destination for Spanish investors that also attracts Portuguese neighbours"; mentioning the 20 agreements signed by Spain and Morocco to facilitate investments between both countries for the different productive economic sectors.
Ouardighi placed special emphasis on the 2030 Football World Cup, which made Morocco, Spain and Portugal three countries that have been designated to work together hand in hand; consolidating their relations at all levels to make this event a success for the host trio.
For his part, Hamid Ait Sidi Ali, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of the Casablanca-Settat region, recalled that "the political stability and strategic position of Morocco as a gateway to Africa is a determining factor in the attractiveness of the North African country for foreign direct investment".
"Morocco is the leading destination for Spanish exports in Africa," added Ait Sidi Ali, pointing out that more than 800 Spanish companies have chosen to set up in the Alawi kingdom and invest in dynamic sectors such as the automotive and textile industries.
Casablanca Business Forum
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Moroccan Business Instance chose Casablanca as the organiser of the second edition of the Business Forum because it is the largest city, the first industrial pole, the first financial hub and the capital of sport.
The event will be held in collaboration with the Institution's institutional partners: the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Casablanca, the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services in Morocco, the Casablanca-Settat Region and the Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services.
The Forum aims to open horizons for reflection and debate and to create a space for meeting and developing synergies. It is also an opportunity to promote the regional dimension generated by the 2030 World Cup, and to shed light on the priorities of the three organisers.
SMEs, a lever for economic development in the Moroccan-Iberian region
The theme of this year's forum is "SMEs as a lever for economic development in the Moroccan-Iberian area", focusing on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the economic fabric of the three countries.
In Morocco, SMEs account for 93% of all Moroccan companies, while in Spain they account for 99.8% of the number of companies, representing 62% of added value and 66% of employment.
In Portugal, 99.9% of the companies are SMEs, representing 70.7% of the added value and 77.5% of employment.
Programme and modes of participation
The Forum's programme includes four thematic seminars dealing with topical issues of common interest to the three countries participating in the Forum. These are climate and business, the sports economy, new investment models and the circular economy.
It should be recalled that the programme also offers a dedicated space for networking and an exhibition area.
Participants from the three neighbours that share the same geographical and historical space and face the same economic and environmental challenges will discuss, through this programme, the common challenges; as well as the ambitions that can unite them on the same platform.
There are several ways to participate in the forum, stakeholders can participate as visitors, and access is open to everyone, as exhibitors, panellists or sponsors.
What is the Moroccan Enterprise Commission?
The Moroccan Enterprise Commission was created in 2019 by a group of young entrepreneurs from the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region in order to defend the interests of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and to support them in the areas of governance, management and human resources management, as well as to make their voice and their demands heard by the authorities.
The body has a national committee and is represented in the regions of Casablanca-Settat, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Laayoune-Sakia Hamra.
