Rabat – Morocco is positioning its 2030 FIFA World Cup preparations as a long-term economic transformation project, using rising international interest, particularly from the United Kingdom, as a lever to accelerate investment, technology transfer, and industrial development.
Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the UK-Morocco Business Forum in Rabat, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour said Morocco is both welcoming foreign companies and shaping a model of cooperation that ensures mutual benefit.
“We are happy and proud to attract so many important companies from the UK interested in our journey of development,” Mezzour said, adding that Morocco aims to integrate international partners into its broader transformation agenda.
He stated that the country’s approach is not limited to attracting investment, but also to ensuring that it generates lasting local value. According to Mezzour, Morocco wants “talents, value added, technology transfer and technology creation of the future” to be rooted in the country as part of this development path.
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He described this relationship as a strategic exchange, with foreign companies gaining access to a fast-developing market and major upcoming projects linked to the World Cup, while Morocco strengthens its domestic ecosystem through skills development, innovation, and industrial upgrading. “It’s a trade-off,” he said.
Mezzour also spoke about the growing momentum behind UK-Morocco economic ties, pointing to a sharp increase in British corporate participation in the forum compared to previous years, with 50 firms present at the two-day event. Interest has grown significantly, he said, noting “an increase in quantity, quality, and ambition” as UK companies increasingly view Morocco as a key partner in future-oriented sectors.
He added that Morocco and the UK have set a goal to double bilateral trade, suggesting this could be achieved in less than five years if current momentum continues. The minister described the current phase as one of strong dynamism, driven by diplomacy, economic engagement, and growing awareness within the UK business ecosystem of Morocco’s emergence as a regional hub.
Read also: UK Firms Gather in Rabat to Explore Morocco’s 2030 World Cup Opportunities
Data shows that UK-Morocco trade reached around £4.6 billion (MAD 58.9 billion) in the year to mid-2025, marking nearly 19% growth year-on-year, with particularly strong growth in UK exports of goods and services.
The UK remains an important trading partner for Morocco, with bilateral trade estimated at several billion pounds annually and increasing as both countries seek to strengthen investment flows and supply chain cooperation.
Speaking to MWN, UK Minister of Trade Chris Bryant also highlighted the depth and everyday reality of the trade relationship, pointing to Moroccan agricultural products in UK supply chains. “I don’t think you can eat a blueberry muffin in the UK probably now that hasn’t had a blueberry that’s come from Morocco,” he noted, explaining that Morocco is also the source of many of the UK’s key exports such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
Bryant added that there is further potential to expand trade in both directions, particularly in higher-value goods and services. He pointed to opportunities for UK exports in traditional food products like “smoked salmon and shortbread,” as well as emerging categories such as baby milk and packaged foods. He also noted the strength of the UK’s service industries, including legal, financial, insurance, marketing, and creative sectors such as music, film, and television.
