Rabat – Morocco and Switzerland launched the “Swiss PartnershIP Morocco” project today in Casablanca to improve the north African country’s legal framework for protecting intellectual and industrial property.
Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, and Switzerland’s Ambassador to Morocco, Valentin Zellweger, attended the event.
The project has a budget of MAD 17.2 million and will run for four years. It seeks to help Moroccan businesses and creators better protect and use their intellectual property rights, including intangible assets.
It also focuses on raising awareness among stakeholders about the importance of intellectual property and ensuring better protection and promotion of innovation.
The Swiss PartnershIP Morocco project is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It will be implemented by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) in partnership with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) and other stakeholders.
Mezzour said that this initiative aligns with Morocco’s growing focus on innovation and technological development. The project will expand intellectual and industrial property awareness across different-sized cities, including medium-sized ones, to enhance trade protection, he added.
According to the minister, Morocco-Switzerland cooperation is based on efficiency and targeted projects. Today’s agreement is a clear example of the strong partnership between the two countries, he argued.
Meanwhile, ambassador Zellweger reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s institutional capacity in this area. He stated that Switzerland considers Morocco a priority country for economic cooperation and sees intellectual property protection as crucial for improving competitiveness, especially in agriculture through “appellations of origin” (AOC) and patent protection.
“This partnership will boost innovation and competitiveness in Morocco and play an important role in the future of our economic relations,” he added.
Abdelaziz Babqiqi, Director General of the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property, spoke about Morocco’s strategy for industrial and commercial property. He explained that this strategy aims to make intellectual property a key driver of a productive, innovative, and inclusive economy.
Babqiqi shared that Morocco achieved record numbers in intellectual property protection in 2024. The country registered 31,500 trademarks (a 14% increase), 6,800 industrial designs (a 26% increase), and 2,900 patents.
