Assahafa.com
A delegation of Catalonian business leaders and officials begins a three-day economic mission to Morocco today. The visit, running from May 27 to 29, aims to strengthen economic and commercial relations between the northeastern Spanish region and the North African country.
The mission is organized by the Catalonian Employers’ Confederation, known locally as Foment del Treball (FDT), in partnership with the Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES). About thirty entrepreneurs representing strategic sectors with high cooperation potential are participating in the delegation.
Led by Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of FDT, the delegation will visit Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca. The group includes businesses specializing in international logistics, customs management, engineering, construction, sustainable chemistry, digital solutions (SaaS), and industrial production of technical materials.
During their stay, the Spanish delegation will hold meetings with Moroccan institutions including the Regional Investment Center of Tangier, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and Casablanca Finance City.
The visit agenda includes tours of strategic industrial sites such as Tangier Automotive City and the Nouaceur Technopole.
Networking opportunities are also planned with key officials, including Ryad Mezzour, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Omar Moro, president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, and Enrique Ojeda Vila, Spain’s Ambassador to Morocco.
This mission is part of FDT’s international projection strategy, which aims to foster sustainable economic partnerships. The initiative seeks to bring Moroccan and Catalonian productive ecosystems closer together while encouraging interregional dialogue between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Morocco, Spain’s top trading partner in Africa
The visit coincides with heightened trade and investment flows across the Strait of Gibraltar—momentum that is set to grow further as both countries, alongside Portugal, prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Spain has been Morocco’s top trading partner for over a decade, with bilateral trade reaching a historic record of over €22.5 billion in 2024.
Spanish exports to Morocco reached €10.843 billion in 2024, showing a 68% increase. Imports from Morocco were valued at €8.220 billion, growing by 9.1% during the same period.
Approximately 61% of Spanish exports to Africa go to Morocco.
Morocco ranks as Spain’s third-largest trading partner outside the European Union, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom. Since 2014, Spain has been both Morocco’s primary customer and supplier, with 18-20% of Morocco’s foreign trade conducted with Spain.
Spanish investment in Morocco exceeded €250 million in both 2022 and 2023. Spanish companies invest primarily in Morocco’s automotive industry, textiles, agribusiness, and tourism sectors, while Moroccan investments in Spain reached nearly €40 million by late September 2024.
Source: Morocco word news
