Assahafa.com
Greater Manchester, one of the United Kingdom’s leading economic centers, hosted a high-level meeting on Friday to showcase the broad range of investment opportunities Morocco offers to the region’s business community.
Addressing an audience of business executives from multiple sectors, Morocco’s Ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, said the event formed part of the strategic partnership between Morocco and Great Britain, two nations linked by more than 800 years of diplomatic relations.
The diplomat noted that bilateral ties gained fresh momentum following the Strategic Dialogue held on June 1, 2025, in Rabat, where relations were elevated to the level of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, opening a new chapter in cooperation.
The upgraded framework creates tangible opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including energy, industry, infrastructure, technology, innovation, tourism, and agriculture, he stated, adding that Manchester and the wider north of England are well positioned to play an active role in this new phase.
Hajoui also highlighted Morocco’s major development gains, particularly in infrastructure, industry, and renewable energy, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He said these advantages offer investors greater long-term visibility, supported by the country’s political stability and the reforms implemented over the past two decades, placing the Kingdom on a trajectory of sustained growth.
Thanks to its strategic location, Morocco has become a gateway to Africa, widely seen as one of the next major frontiers of global economic expansion, the diplomat added.
From financial services and advanced technologies to digital transformation, green hydrogen, clean energy, and agriculture, prospects for cooperation between Morocco and the United Kingdom are extensive, he said, also pointing to opportunities linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Greater Manchester has all the strengths needed to be part of this momentum, Hajoui observed, noting that the city now benefits from direct air connections with Casablanca.
He also stressed that ties between Manchester and Morocco date back to the 19th century through longstanding commercial relations, further reinforcing the potential for cooperation under the current partnership.
For her part, head of international trade at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Amy Swindells, underscored the importance of bilateral economic ties, noting that trade between the two countries continues to grow, driven by high-value sectors.
She highlighted the strategic role of the Association Agreement signed in 2021, which provides a favorable framework and preferential advantages across several industries.
Participants also attended a detailed presentation by AMDIE on Morocco’s economic performance and the macroeconomic fundamentals underpinning the country’s modern development model.
The meeting featured extensive discussions between the Moroccan delegation and representatives of local companies, who expressed strong interest in opportunities in Morocco, particularly in technology, innovation, green energy, infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, and agriculture.
Business leaders called for stronger exchanges and the creation of practical partnerships with Moroccan stakeholders through projects capable of delivering rapid results, with the aim of progressively integrating Greater Manchester into the momentum of bilateral cooperation.
That interest was also echoed by local authorities, including the Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester, during talks with Morocco’s ambassador, which focused on advancing concrete areas of collaboration.
With a metropolitan population of more than 2.8 million, Manchester occupies a central place in the British economy as the leading economic engine of northern England and a driving force behind the “Northern Powerhouse” strategy.
The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the city has evolved into a diversified economic hub powered by sectors such as financial services, digital technology, creative industries, and higher education. It continues to attract domestic and international companies thanks to its infrastructure, transport links, and strong talent base, while playing a strategic role in rebalancing the UK economy.
Source: map
