Catalonian Economic Delegation Kicks Off Three-Day Mission to Morocco
The mission is organized by the Catalonian Employers' Confederation, known locally as Foment del Treball (FDT), in partnership with the Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES). About thirty entrepreneurs representing strategic sectors with high cooperation potential are participating in the delegation.
Led by Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of FDT, the delegation will visit Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca. The group includes businesses specializing in international logistics, customs management, engineering, construction, sustainable chemistry, digital solutions (SaaS), and industrial production of technical materials.
During their stay, the Spanish delegation will hold meetings with Moroccan institutions including the Regional Investment Center of Tangier, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and Casablanca Finance City.
The visit agenda includes tours of strategic industrial sites such as Tangier Automotive City and the Nouaceur Technopole.
Networking opportunities are also planned with key officials, including Ryad Mezzour, Morocco's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Omar Moro, president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, and Enrique Ojeda Vila, Spain's Ambassador to Morocco.
This mission is part of FDT's international projection strategy, which aims to foster sustainable economic partnerships. The initiative seeks to bring Moroccan and Catalonian productive ecosystems closer together while encouraging interregional dialogue between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Morocco, Spain's top trading partner in Africa
The visit coincides with heightened trade and investment flows across the Strait of Gibraltar—momentum that is set to grow further as both countries, alongside Portugal, prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Spain has been Morocco's top trading partner for over a decade, with bilateral trade reaching a historic record of over €22.5 billion in 2024.
Spanish exports to Morocco reached €10.843 billion in 2024, showing a 68% increase. Imports from Morocco were valued at €8.220 billion, growing by 9.1% during the same period.
Approximately 61% of Spanish exports to Africa go to Morocco.
Morocco ranks as Spain's third-largest trading partner outside the European Union, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom. Since 2014, Spain has been both Morocco's primary customer and supplier, with 18-20% of Morocco's foreign trade conducted with Spain.
Spanish investment in Morocco exceeded €250 million in both 2022 and 2023. Spanish companies invest primarily in Morocco's automotive industry, textiles, agribusiness, and tourism sectors, while Moroccan investments in Spain reached nearly €40 million by late September 2024.
Read also: Spain Commits €340 Million to Casablanca Desalination Plant
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
LG, Yahua Group to Invest MAD 5.5 Billion in Lithium Refining Plant in Morocco
Rabat – Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, announced on Wednesday a joint Korean-Chinese investment of over MAD 5.5 billion ($612.32 million) in the first phase of the establishment of a lithium refining plant in Morocco. Writing on X, the Moroccan minister said he 'had the pleasure' to welcome delegations from Korea's LG Solution and China's Yahua Group, who are leading an investment aimed at establishing a lithium refining facility in Morocco. He said the project 'will strengthen Morocco's position as a regional hub in the electric battery value chain and foster the development of an innovative industrial cluster around lithium.' The first phase of the project represents an investment of over MAD 5.5 billion to create over 430 high-value-added direct jobs. The project comes as Morocco increasingly expresses interest in the lithium sector in line with the country's ambition to boost its industrial development. As lithium is an essential component in electric car production, the project reflects the country's approach to positioning itself as a competitive player in the global green economy. In June, COBCO announced the inauguration of the first lithium-ion material manufacturing unit in Jorf Lasfar, with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes This project came as Morocco emphasized its ambition to increase its electric vehicle production capacity by 53%. Also in June, as Morocco's global automotive production stood at 700,000 vehicles, Minister of Industry Ryad Mezzour stressed that the country's goal is to increase production to reach 107,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2025. He concluded that Morocco aims to produce one million vehicles by the end of the year. Tags: Automotive Exportslithium
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Gabon Shifts Student Scholarships to Morocco in Major Educational Reform
Marrakech – Gabon's government has announced that starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, scholarships for studies abroad will be awarded only for priority fields while favoring strategic destinations like Morocco. The announcement came through a statement from Elisabeth Désirée Mboumba Lassy, Director General of Gabon's National Scholarship Agency (ANBG), broadcast on national television 'Gabon 1ère.' The reform follows direct instructions from Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. Priority fields identified include raw material processing, agronomy and food security, digital technology, aeronautics, renewable energy, and medical specialties. These sectors are deemed critical for the country's national development strategy. Morocco has been explicitly named as a preferred destination for Gabonese scholarship students. The North African country, along with Senegal, is considered more 'financially sustainable' compared to Western countries like France, Canada, and the United States. The cost factor appears crucial in this decision. According to official figures provided by local media, the average cost per student in Morocco is CFA 5,504,000 ($9,174), while in Senegal it amounts to CFA 3,172,000 ($5,287). These figures contrast sharply with costs in Western countries: CFA 8,505,000 ($14,175) in France, CFA 13,928,000 ($23,213) in Canada, and CFA 24,405,000 ($40,675) in the United States. 'Those who go to the United States or Canada never come back' President Oligui Nguema has been forthright about his concerns regarding students who study in Western countries. 'Those who go to the United States or Canada never come back,' he stated, continuing that students sent to Morocco, Senegal, or Ghana are more likely to return to Gabon after completing their studies. The reform aims to address brain drain, with the president questioning the value of providing scholarships to Gabonese students who ultimately remain abroad. According to government sources, more than 70% of Gabonese graduates from Western countries do not return to serve their nation. The government defends this policy as responsible, patriotic, and socially just. Officials argue that financing a minority of students in countries with exorbitant living costs is economically irrational and socially unjust, as one Western scholarship equals approximately ten scholarships in countries like Morocco. The president has announced more radical measures to take effect by 2026, stating that no scholarships will be awarded for studies in the United States, Canada, and France. This decision has generated some controversy, with former Prime Minister Bilie By Nze reportedly criticizing it as 'anti-social and undemocratic.' Gabonese authorities maintain that partner universities in Africa (Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa) provide competitive training adapted to continental realities at much lower costs. The government considers this choice 'strategic realism' rather than a withdrawal. The reform is part of a broader educational policy shift by the Committee for Transition and Renewal (CTRI). Officials state that savings from this measure will be reinvested in modernizing Gabonese universities, expanding local scholarship programs, and creating regional centers of excellence networked with Africa. This reorientation strengthens Morocco's position as an African educational hub, particularly in South-South relations with Central African countries. Tags: african students in MoroccoMorocco and Gabon
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Raja Launch 1,000-Member Plan to Reshape Club Leadership
Raja Club Athletic announced a new campaign on Monday to expand its parliamentary body to 1,000 members, in a move designed to overhaul the club's governance structure. In a statement issued that morning, the Casablanca-based club said the initiative seeks to transform Raja's parliament into a genuine decision-making force that reflects the aspirations of fans – especially at a time when the club is undergoing major changes, particularly at the administrative and managerial levels. Membership will grant holders a seat in the Raja Parliament – the club's highest decision-making authority – and the right to vote in presidential elections. Members will also be invited to contribute to the club's strategic planning, join internal committees, and take part in ongoing development projects. The club said reaching the 1,000-member milestone would mark an unprecedented achievement in Moroccan football. After a decade of financial instability and institutional drift, Raja's president, Jawad Ziyat, is now seeking to rebuild the club and lay the foundations for long-term success. Tags: botola proRaja Club Athletic
