Rabat – Morocco’s business climate and its position as a hub to Africa were at the center of a recent meeting held by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Service (CICG) and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Morocco (CCSM).
Several Swiss economic actors and business leaders attended the meeting entitled “Focus Morocco,” which focused on highlighting the country’s geostrategic position and its investment opportunities.
In a presentation on “Morocco: Land of Investment and Gateway to Africa,” Ali Mehrez from the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports (AMDIE), highlighted the country’s world-class infrastructure, its high-performing industry sector, and its multiple free trade agreements.
Mehrez focused on the Kingdom’s position as a gateway to Africa, emphasizing the notable presence of Moroccan companies in different strategic sectors across the continent.
Meanwhile, Lamia Merzouki, Deputy Director General of the Casablanca Finance City (CFC), highlighted CFC’s position as an “economic and financial hub in Africa.”
Merzouki stressed that the CFC has been a leading African financial center for several years, according to the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI).
“The CFC has been able to attract more than 200 members who, from Casablanca, pilot their flagships on the African continent,” she said.
Tanger Med CEO Mehdi Tazi Riffi highlighted that investments in the port infrastructure now amount to $10 billion, including $7 billion in private investments made by major logistics and industrial operators.
Riffi noted that private investors have chosen Tanger Med “as a platform to be able to produce, develop logistics hubs, and export to global markets.”
He further noted that Tangier port has recently generated 130 million tonnes of traffic, and eight million containers, making it the first container port in Africa for the the fifth consecutive year and the first port in the Mediterranean for two years.
“These performances reflect the logistical competitiveness of Tanger Med,” he said.
Swiss economic operators on Morocco’s business climate
In his speech, the CEO of the CCIG Vincent Subilia stressed that, “Morocco is a key economic partner for Switzerland, a leading market, and a growth driver especially for an exporting economy like Switzerland’s.”
Subilia commended Morocco’s potential in terms of attracting investment and highlighting its partnership opportunities with Switzerland in different fields, particularly the aeronautics sector.
Meanwhile, President of the CCSM Christophe De Figueiredo said that the meeting aims to connect Moroccan businessmen and entrepreneurs with their Swiss counterparts, calling on them to seize investment opportunities offered in their respective countries.
Swiss Ambassador to Morocco Guillaume Scheurer noted that such meetings will enable Swiss economic operators to learn more about Morocco and its business-friendly environment.
Ambassador Scheurer highlighted the strong diplomatic relations between the two countries, recalling the signing last December of a joint declaration aiming to increase cooperation in all fields.
“The Kingdom has rapidly climbed all the levels over the past two decades thanks to King Mohammed VI’s vision for development, and large-scale strategic development projects, especially in terms of infrastructure,” he said.
He also welcomed Morocco’s essential geopolitical, geographical, political and economic assets, citing the country’s stability and new development model (NDM) that allowed it to rise to the forefront on the continent.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Morocco to Switzerland Lahcen Azoulay noted that the meeting is another milestone testifying to the two countries’ readiness to move forward and explore new areas of cooperation.
Ambassador Azoulay concluded his speech by stressing that the Morocco-Switzerland Joint Declaration is a “reference document that aims to be a pragmatic, realistic, and results-oriented roadmap in bilateral relations.”
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