Rabat – Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for supporting Irish businesses, has expressed interest in working with Morocco at different levels, including innovation and trade.
In a press release, Enterprise Ireland announced the kick off of “Morocco Week” at a virtually held event to discuss trade cooperation between Irish and Moroccan representatives.
Morocco’s Minister of Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy and his counterpart from Ireland Robert Roy will discuss different aspects of cooperation and trade during the event.
The representatives will join several virtual discussions and webinars, convening Moroccan companies and exports to discuss ways to boost trade and business cooperation.
Conor Fahy, Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for India, Middle East, and Africa said Irish businesses “bring a winning combination of world-class innovation that has been fostered through a strong” research and development investment and “commitment delivered by the Government of Ireland.”
Fahy recalled that innovation is at the core of Irish industry.
“It is the reason why our international exports continue to rise.”
Mike Hogan, Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Manager for the Middle East and North Africa also emphasized the importance of the event, citing Morocco’s economic assets.
“Morocco is fast becoming a hub for trade and business for Irish companies,” the business official said.
He said that the “focus of the event will act as another step in the right direction of creating a bridge between our two countries moving even closer into the future.”
Enterprise Ireland said that Irish exports to Morocco were up 31% in 2019. The number makes Morocco among the key trade partners for Irish innovation and trade.
The government agency also emphasized that Ireland witnessed an increase in exports and services despite COVID-19.
“Ireland was the only economy in the European Union (EU) to grow in 2020 – 3% – despite the impact of the impact of the pandemic and related shutdowns.”
Several senior officials will attend the Morocco Week virtual event, including Morocco’s ambassador to Ireland Lahcen Mahraoui.
The press release said the series of events are led by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s trade and innovation agency, in collaboration with Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Ireland.
