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Rabat – Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has officially started its operations in Morocco, marking the launch of its first site in Africa. The company aims to help Moroccan businesses expand their exports to new markets, particularly in North America.
Alibaba announced its expansion during a meeting held on Wednesday in Casablanca, where the company met with Moroccan companies and representatives from government agencies involved in trade and exports.
Alibaba’s Director for Europe Giancarlo Pastano noted the importance of supporting small and medium-sized Moroccan businesses and helping them increase their exports to international markets, especially in North America, where most of Alibaba’s buyers are located, Asharq Business reported.
Pastano added that Morocco was chosen for this expansion due to its diverse industries, high-quality products, and strategic location, as well as its advanced infrastructure.
The country has a “diverse industry and products with a good reputation that are in demand in the international market, in addition to a strategic location and advanced infrastructure, such as the Tanger Med Port, which is considered the leading container port in the Mediterranean region,” he explained.
To support its operations in Morocco, Alibaba has partnered with local company Clementia. Clementia’s CEO, Reda Chraibi, explained that Moroccan businesses can now set up digital storefronts on Alibaba, which would make it easier to connect with buyers worldwide and increase their export opportunities.
Alibaba is also considering creating a dedicated page for Moroccan products on its platform, but this will depend on collaboration with Moroccan government agencies focused on export development, according to the report.
Moroccan exports currently rely heavily on the European Union, but the country is actively working to diversify its export destinations.
Currently, fewer than 30 Moroccan companies are using Alibaba’s platform. However, with the launch of the service, the number is expected to grow significantly.
The platform is the world’s largest business-to-business (B2B) marketplace, with 47 million active users representing companies from all over the world.
