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Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco has once again confirmed its strong commitment to supporting free trade and deeper economic integration across Africa, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said on Friday at the opening of the 2nd African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf) Business Forum.
Speaking in Marrakech, Akhannouch stated that under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues to strengthen the mechanisms needed to encourage free trade and build sustainable economic growth on the continent.
“Thanks to the High Royal Directives, Morocco is reinforcing its role as a key actor and strategic partner in developing multidimensional cooperation among African countries,” he said.
Akhannouch recalled that Morocco’s vision for Africa remains clear: an Africa in control of its own destiny, able to transform its natural resources locally, and better connected from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, and from the Sahel to the continent’s coastal regions.
Initiatives to support Africa’s development
This vision, he noted, is embodied in the Atlantic Initiative launched by King Mohammed VI. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between Atlantic African states and countries of the Sahel, offering them access to Morocco’s major port and logistics infrastructure. These facilities currently serve 23 Atlantic African countries and their landlocked neighbors.
Akhannouch recalled several ambitious projects aimed at strengthening economic and commercial ties across Africa. One of the most significant is the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, a 6,000-km project that will cross several West African countries. Once completed, it will provide reliable and competitive energy, supporting joint industrial development in key sectors such as fertilizers, petrochemicals, construction materials, and agro-industry.
He also pointed to Casablanca Finance City (CFC) as a key engine for regional economic integration. CFC hosts major financial players and supports investment across the continent. Morocco’s banks, now present in more than 20 African countries, also play a major role in strengthening financial ties.
Additionally, the recent decision of Bank Al-Maghrib, Morocco’s central bank, to join the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is expected to facilitate faster and more efficient cross-border payments. This positions Morocco to pilot new projects such as payment systems using local currencies and tools to secure export credit and support African SMEs.
A vision for prosperity and stability
“Morocco, faithful to the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, will fully play its role so that African economic integration becomes a driver of prosperity, stability, and dignity for our peoples,” Akhannouch said.
He noted that this second edition of the ZLECAf Business Forum reflects a strong continental momentum aimed at transforming the African free trade area from a simple trade agreement into a genuine economic development project.
Launched in 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf) is the largest free trade zone in the world in terms of participating countries. It aims to boost intra-African trade, reduce tariffs, and create a unified market of more than 1.3 billion people.
Morocco has been actively supporting ZLECAf through national reforms, regional partnerships, and large-scale infrastructure investments.
The forum is led by Morocco’s State Secretariat for Foreign Trade, in partnership with ZLECAf, the Moroccan Association of Exporters (ASMEX), the CGEM, and the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM).
