Morocco joins global FIT partnership to amplify trade influence

Saturday 20 September 2025 - 07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco joins global FIT partnership to amplify trade influence

Morocco has become a founding member of the newly launched Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT), a coalition of 14 nations aimed at strengthening the global trade influence of small and medium-sized economies. The initiative, formalized during a virtual ministerial meeting on September 16, seeks to address shared trade challenges through non-binding cooperation.

The founding members of FIT include Morocco, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. The partnership emerged following a year of consultations among trade ministers, including a critical meeting in Switzerland in May.

FIT aims to bolster supply chain resilience, promote investment, reduce non-tariff barriers, and integrate emerging technologies into trade frameworks. Unlike traditional trade agreements, FIT operates as a flexible platform for collaboration rather than a binding treaty-based organization.

A strategic opportunity for Morocco

For Morocco, joining FIT offers a unique platform to assert its role as a strategic trade hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The country has recently introduced reforms, such as revising its investment code, to attract foreign investors and improve its competitiveness in global markets.

The partnership allows Morocco to advocate for fair trade rules tailored to the needs of smaller economies, strengthen public-private sector collaboration, and complement its existing bilateral and regional trade agreements, including those with the European Union, the United States, and African countries.

By participating in FIT, Morocco is not only enhancing its global trade influence but also modernizing its trade infrastructure, particularly through advancements in technology and customs procedures.

Next steps for FIT

The first official ministerial follow-up meeting is scheduled for November in Singapore, where member countries will present concrete initiatives aligned with FIT’s objectives. The coalition emphasizes voluntary cooperation, private-sector involvement, and joint efforts to address global trade fragmentation and economic shifts.

In a rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscape, the FIT Partnership provides smaller economies like Morocco with a unified voice in shaping global trade policies and navigating emerging challenges.