Morocco Launches Digital Trade Initiative
Official statements indicate the North African country is working on a new digitization project supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Launched under the mandate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of Moroccan businesses in international trade.
A delegation from the EBRD met today with the president of Morocco's Federation for Transportation and Logistics Abdelilah Hifdi during the second day of the Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025 to discuss the project.
In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the event, Catherine Bridge Zoller, Senior Counsel at EBRD, said: 'We are looking at how to align Moroccan legislation with the UNCITRAL Model Law on electronic transferable records.'
EBRD's goal, she explained, 'is to align Morocco's legislation with its partners such as France, Spain, and the UK to give functional equivalence to digital forms of documents that are frequently used in trade, such as bills of lading and bills of exchange.'
The fruit of a partnership between ICC Morocco and the UNCITRAL Secretariat, the project aims to create a modernized framework adapted to the demands of international commerce.
This transformation comes at a crucial time, especially as global trade increasingly shifts toward digital platforms and paperless transactions.
Read also: UNCTAD Report: Morocco's Economic Strategy in Africa's Push for Growth
The initiative embodies a comprehensive consultation process with key stakeholders in the sector.
It also focuses on three main areas, including examining current international trade financing practices and identifying challenges in digitizing procedures.
The initiative further includes assessing how a modernized legislative framework could boost Moroccan companies' performance and competitiveness.
'It's a very technical subject, a very technical area,' Zoller said, pointing to the importance of engaging with industry specialists.
'That's why we're here speaking with the specialists on transport and logistics. We are delighted to have this cooperation with the Federation de Transport Logistique Maroc.'
This digital transformation project represents a strategic endeavor to position Morocco as a more competitive player in international trade.
Morocco aims to reduce transaction costs, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities for its business community through an overall modernization of its trade infrastructure and alignment with global digital standards.
The success of this initiative could serve as a model for the country's fellow African nations looking to modernize their trade systems and integrate more deeply into the global digital economy. Tags: EBRD and moroccoMorocco's TradeTrade digitization
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Bank Al-Maghrib Posts 27% Rise in 2024 Profit, Reaching MAD 6.46 Billion
Rabat – Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Morocco's central bank, ended the 2024 financial year with a net profit of MAD 6.46 billion, marking a 27% increase compared to 2023. According to the bank's annual report, the profit rose from MAD 5.1 billion in 2023 to MAD 6.46 billion in 2024. This growth came despite higher operating costs and was driven by solid performance in several key areas, says the central bank. One of the main contributors to this result was the management of Morocco's foreign exchange reserves, the report argued. Income from this activity reached MAD 8.74 billion, up by 17%. The increase was mainly driven by better returns on foreign currency assets, especially bonds. The central bank also saw a 27% jump in profits from its monetary policy operations, which totalled MAD 3.95 billion. This was linked to higher levels of monetary interventions as Moroccan banks faced more liquidity shortages, even though the bank had lowered its key interest rate to 2.5% in 2024. Meanwhile, other operational activities remained stable, bringing in MAD 1.27 billion. Although income from commissions on foreign exchange and Treasury bills dropped, this was balanced by higher sales of secure documents, such as official papers and identification materials. On the cost side, general operating expenses rose by 22% to MAD 2.54 billion. This increase was due to rising day-to-day running costs and higher depreciation provisions. Despite the increase in expenses, Bank Al-Maghrib's gross operating profit rose by 17% to MAD 11.42 billion, showing improved efficiency and overall profitability in its core activities. The bank also reported a smaller non-recurring loss. It dropped from MAD 997 million in 2023 to MAD 447 million in 2024, largely due to the settlement of the social solidarity contribution owed from the previous year. Tags: BAMBank Al-Maghribprofit
Maroc
2 days ago
- Maroc
Under HM the King's Leadership, Morocco Stands out as Emerging Power in Africa
The Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, stands out as an 'emerging power' in Africa, thanks to outstanding performance and forward-looking choices, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina said. In a statement to MAP, Adesina emphasized that Morocco, which is undergoing a strong transformative momentum as highlighted in the speech delivered by His Majesty the King on the occasion of the Throne Day, stands out for the consistency and coherence of its economic and social progress. Morocco's strategic positioning, he said, is rooted in a clear and ambitious vision supported by an integrated development strategy, economic, social, and environmental, grounded in stable governance and carefully considered policy choices. This methodical and determined approach, he added, has enabled the Kingdom to emerge as one of the most advanced nations on the African continent. 'As part of its New Development Model, the Kingdom has strengthened its economic fundamentals,' Adesina said, pointing to genuine sectoral diversification, a well-managed openness to global markets, and firm integration into regional and global value chains as signs of Morocco's economic emergence. The country's industrial revival, particularly in the automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors, reflects this upward trajectory, bolstered by an ambitious infrastructure policy and solid macroeconomic environment, which enhance Morocco's appeal to international investors, he noted. 'Driven by the major development projects launched by His Majesty the King, our relations with the Kingdom continue to grow stronger, in order to support and accompany these multi-faceted advances for the benefit of the country and the Moroccan people,' Adesina concluded. MAP: 01 August 2025
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
New Mauritius Hotels increases investment in Royal Palm Marrakech phase 2
New Mauritius Hotels Ltd (NMH) has announced the launch of the second phase of the Royal Palm Marrakech development, reaffirming its long-term commitment to Morocco. The investment significantly exceeds the amounts initially planned under the 2006 framework agreement signed with the Moroccan government. For this second phase of the tourism project, NMH has partnered with Ynexis Group (formerly Yamed Group), a prominent strategic financial partner in Morocco with strong expertise in hotel investment. The investment in the future 300-key luxury hotel now exceeds 600 million dirhams. With over 70 years of experience, NMH is listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and features on the sustainable development index. BH, Domaine Palm Marrakech S.A. (DPM), and Ynexis Group have joined forces to create Apexia Beachcomber Properties, an OPCI (real estate collective investment scheme) designed to own the existing hotel infrastructure and build the second hotel. Hotel management will be entrusted to Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, while the residential component will remain independent.
