The Moroccan region of Dakhla shows its business potential to Spanish businessmen and women
Morocco has jumped on the bandwagon of progress. Under the government, and with the approval of King Mohammed VI, the neighbouring country is carrying out a series of economic, social and cultural initiatives so as not to miss any opportunities. It is aware of the importance of its geographical location, facing Europe and also Africa, and of the great potential it has, but also of the need to strengthen collaboration with other countries and seek investors to go hand in hand and face the great challenges of the future. To this end, Spain has become the best ally.
The Palace Hotel in Madrid was the venue for the Morocco-Spain Business Forum organised by the Dajla Region, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Spain and the Madrid Chamber of Commerce. Ambassador Karima Benyaich was in charge of opening the event, which was attended by a large number of business representatives. After her words of thanks, she recalled that this meeting is a continuation of the one held in 2022 in which more than 400 Spanish businessmen participated.
Benyaich praised her country for its geographical location, security, political stability and progress and, in particular, the region that was the focus of this forum: Dakhla, "a first-rate region that offers great opportunities for Moroccans and Spaniards".
Relations based on mutual respect
According to the ambassador, we must take advantage of the good relations that both countries are experiencing, based on mutual respect, and she recalled that we are strategic partners, with a permanent dialogue on a political level, an area in which she highlighted cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and against terrorism; on an economic level, since Spain is Morocco's leading trading partner, with 20,000 Spanish companies collaborating with Morocco and a thousand established in the country, while Morocco is Spain's third largest trading partner after the USA and Great Britain; in terms of infrastructure, with more than 300 flights, 571 weekly sea links and the high-speed train; in terms of tourism, as more and more Moroccans are opting for Spain as a holiday destination and vice versa; and in the cultural and university sphere, as Moroccan students studying in Spain now account for 10% of foreign students. The ambassador did not forget the collaboration in the Strait of Gibraltar Operation, which in 2023 meant that more than three million Moroccans from Europe passed through Algeciras and Tarifa to Morocco.
She also referred to the Investment Charter and the important administrative reforms launched by the Moroccan Government "to make a qualitative leap", as well as the commitment to digitalisation and the great opportunity presented by the 2030 World Cup.
Finally, she recalled that "Morocco is the leading investor in Africa and a platform for Spanish investors to work hand in hand in other African countries". With regard to Dakhla, she assured that its port will enable it to become "a first class region", and affirmed that "betting on Dakhla is the right bet".
After the ambassador, Yanja El Khattat, President of the Dakhla region, took the floor, who stressed that the two countries, in addition to sharing common values of tolerance, also share the importance of strengthening relations in order to face new challenges. "Dakhla is essential for Africa", he assured, a region that presents outstanding economic engines from fishing to tourism or agriculture and renewable energies, and which will face the development of infrastructures such as the project for the largest wind farm in North Africa and the Atlantic port.
According to Yanja El Khattat, one of Morocco's objectives in its development of Africa is to promote the countries of the Atlantic and to make Dakhla an attractive territory, which is why this region "invites Spanish entrepreneurs to explore the various possibilities". As President of the Council, he stressed his conviction that relations with Spain serve as a model and that together they can work for a more prosperous and better future and contribute to a fairer world.
The vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid, Augusto Castañeda, spoke at the opening ceremony to recall the importance of the neighbouring country, which has 38 million inhabitants, 50 collaboration agreements in force, a qualified workforce, a growth rate of 2.4 in 2023, a strategic situation with respect to Africa, which reached a figure of 12,000 million in exports and 9,000 million in imports.... Data that led him to affirm that in the Chamber of Madrid they are aware of the economic growth of Morocco, hence the support for meetings such as the one held "so that relations between these two kingdoms flow more".
Trade, industry, tourism and aquaculture
After the opening ceremony, an institutional video was shown on all the investment opportunities and the business climate between the Dakhla region and Spain, images which were complemented by sectoral explanations focused on four main points: the Port of Dakhla Atlantic, trade and industry, the development of tourism activities and aquaculture.
Representatives and managers from each of these areas explained to the businessmen present the business possibilities existing in this region, located between the Atlantic and the Sahara Desert: fishing, agriculture, infrastructures, leisure, sports, ecotourism, training, renewable energies... as well as the major projects to be carried out, such as the aforementioned Atlantic port. But not only did they show the potential of this region in full development and the sectors where investments can be made, but also the incentives and advantages that investors can obtain: advice, easy access to financial aid, tax exemption, customs duties, personalised support, one-stop shop, support for female entrepreneurship... and other measures included in the Investment Charter.
The meeting ended with a dynamic video on the project of the Atlantic port of Dakhla, which aims to be the largest in Morocco.
