France and US Are Morocco’s Biggest Foreign Investors

Rabat – According to the economic and financial report attached to the 2019 Finance Bill, the rise comes in a context marked by a significant decline in FDI globally and a decrease in FDI in Africa.

However, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows were down by 2.7 percent in the 12 months up to September 2018 compared to the same period of the previous year, the Foreign Exchange Office (FEO) reported. The FEO reported the figures in its monthly foreign trade indicators for September 2018.

In terms of countries’ share of FDI at the African level, the report stated that Morocco ranks 5th after Egypt ($7.4 billion), Ethiopia ($3.6 billion), Nigeria ($3.5 billion), and Ghana ($3.3 billion).

France was Morocco’s biggest investor, contributing 27 percent to the total FDI that Morocco received in 2017. However, France’s share in Morocco’s FDI was down compared to 31 percent in 2016.

The US was Morocco’s second biggest investor with 17 percent of Morocco’s total FDI. The US invested MAD 5.9 billion in 2017, an increase of 151 percent compared to 2016.

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The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom accounted for 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively, of total FDI in 2017.

The report pointed out that the FDI flows increased in the food industry, but also ins finance, electronics, engineering, tourism, and textiles.

Both real estate and industry, were the most attractive sectors of the national economy in 2017, although the their share FDI dropped by 30 and 24 percent, respectively.

Insurance received 12 percent of investment and the energy and metals sector received 7 percent,, while the trade sector significantly decreased its portion from 14 to 8 percent.