Japanese automotive companies arrived on a business mission to Rabat on Monday.
This move is part of strengthening economic relations between Morocco and Japan and introducing investors to opportunities in the Moroccan market.
The Japan External Trade Organization in Rabat (JETRO Rabat) is leading the mission in collaboration with the Moroccan Association for the Automotive Industry and Construction (AMICA), the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), and the Tanger Med Zones.
Running until February 5, the program includes meetings and site visits to provide Japanese firms with a closer look at Morocco’s business environment and industrial potential.
Hicham Chaoudri, Director of investment at the Ministry of Investment, Convergence, and Policy Evaluation, has described the initiative as a step toward deepening the cooperation between the two countries.
He went on to note that more than 70 Japanese firms are already operating in Morocco, mainly in the car industry, whose ability to stay attests to their confidence in Morocco’s business climate and a long-term growth perspective.
Japan ranks among Morocco’s key economic partners in Asia. In recent years, investments by Japanese companies have contributed to the development of the Moroccan car industry. This development has in turn played a crucial role in the significant rise in the North African country’s industrial capacity and export potential.
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Maria Ouazzani Chahdi, chief of AMDIE’s automotive department, underlined that Morocco’s status as a global investment destination has grown over the last years.
She pointed to the country’s advanced infrastructure, such as Africa’s first high-speed train, which currently connects big cities such as Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, and Tangier.
Morocco has 18 airports connecting the country with more than 130 cities around the world, she added, noting that this strengthens the country’s strategic position in global trade.
Thanks to its long-term strategy, Chahdi further argued, Morocco has prepared a hyper-efficient industrial ecosystem that assures continuous attraction by foreign investors.
Whereas Japanese companies have focused on the automotive and manufacturing industries, these firms have taken cognizance of Morocco as a gateway into regional and international markets.
Nishimoto Hirochi, Senior Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Division at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, echoed similar sentiments as he reaffirmed the need for both Morocco and Japan to strengthen economic ties.
He showed an interest in new ventures and reassured that Japan is committed to intensifying its efforts in Morocco.
The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to Kenitra and Tangier, two key hubs for automotive production.
The mission follows a visit to Tokyo last November by Karim Zidane, the Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence, and Policy Evaluation, as part of the “Morocco Now” campaign, which positions the North African country as a sustainable and strategic hub for trade and business.
