Rabat – British MP James Doddridge has lauded Morocco as a “unique” trading partner of the United Kingdom.
Writing in an article published on Wednesday on the website PoliticsHome, the MP emphasized the strategic significance of Morocco’s location, establishing itself as a gateway to Africa and offering seamless access to the African market.
Doddridge, a Conservative member of the House of Commons, asserted in his article that in the wake of Brexit, it is essential for London to prioritize the longstanding and special relationship that Britain has maintained with Morocco for over 800 years.
“Trade has been a pivotal element of this privileged association, dating back to the first ships carrying sugar, dates and fabrics, to the famous teapots of Manchester that found their way to Morocco during the nineteenth Century,” the MP wrote.
Formal trade relations between the UK and Morocco were initiated with the signing of the first trade agreement in 1721 in Fez and have flourished ever since.
Most recently, the signing of the Association Agreement between Morocco and the UK after the UK’s departure from the EU in 2021 has had a transformative impact on bilateral trade. Within a mere 12 months of signing the agreement, total trade in goods and services between the two countries increased by 50 percent.
In 2022 alone, trade exchanges between the UK and Morocco reached an impressive £ 3.1 billion. He highlighted that these are the tangible benefits the agreement brings to British consumers, in addition to providing them access to a diverse range of high-quality and affordable products that meet the demands for the British market.
He specifically mentioned Morocco’s green and climate-friendly agriculture practices, sustainable farming methods, and robust commercial infrastructure, particularly in the area of fresh food products.
Read also: Morocco, UK Sign Cooperation Framework on Climate Action, Clean Energy
Drawing on his experience as the former minister of state for Africa, Doddridge expressed great enthusiasm for the future that the UK and Africa must share. He believes that Africa is poised to become a leading economic power before the end of this century and urged for strengthened ties with the continent to capitalize on the vast opportunities it presents.
According to the British MP, Morocco is well-positioned to support and stimulate trade, business, and commerce links between the UK and the African continent. The strategic location of Morocco serves as the foundation for potential tripartite trade partnerships, acting as a gateway to African markets through the port of Tangier Med — the largest shipping hub in Africa and the Mediterranean — which is connected to 40 ports on the continent.
