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Strengthening ties: Morocco and China at the forefront of industrial partnership
Morocco’s trade minister delivered a compelling address at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which is hosting over 1,000 participants, including local economic operators and Moroccan entrepreneurs based in China. This year, Morocco is honored as the guest of honor at the forum, a distinction that highlights its strategic partnership with China.
In a virtual message from Haikou, the capital of China’s southern Hainan province, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, opened the 11th edition of the Entrepreneurs Conference. He emphasized that this recognition underscores Morocco's integral role as a strategic ally to China, a relationship solidified during King Mohammed VI’s landmark visit to Beijing in 2016, which initiated a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Mezzour noted Morocco’s proactive involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly among Arab nations. He stated, “The Sino-Moroccan partnership is now tangible in industrial, energy, and logistics sectors.” This assertion is backed by Morocco’s significant infrastructural developments over the past 25 years, including the high-speed train linking Casablanca and Tangier, as well as the expansive Tangier Med port complex.
Morocco’s geographical position offers access to a vast market of 2.4 billion consumers across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This strategic advantage, coupled with economic openness and reforms in the legal and financial sectors, has attracted international investors. “We’ve established special economic zones like Casablanca Finance City and provide state support for promising national economic projects,” Mezzour elaborated.
The minister proposed the creation of a China-Arab digital platform to enhance interactions among entrepreneurs and connect investors with project developers. Furthermore, he advocated for training programs centered on artificial intelligence and the green economy, aimed at equipping young talent with essential skills for the global market.
Highlighting the importance of small and medium enterprises, Mezzour described them as “the backbone of Arab economies.” He called for dedicated investment funds and technical assistance to support their international expansion.
The Moroccan delegation at the forum, led by Ambassador Abdelkader El Ansari, comprises representatives from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), Bank of Africa, and Attijariwafa Bank.
The conference also featured insights from other speakers, including Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, Ren Hongbin, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and Khaled Mohamad Hanafy, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers. They noted that trade between China and Arab countries surged from $36.7 billion in 2004 to over $400 billion in 2020.
This two-day conference, held concurrently with the 9th Investment Seminar at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, has become a pivotal platform for fostering economic and commercial relations between China and Arab nations. Morocco's exhibition stand, the only national display at the event, showcases investment opportunities and tourism attractions, drawing considerable attention.
The conference includes thematic sessions on energy transition, scientific and technological innovation, cultural and tourism synergies, and financial cooperation development. A special session dedicated to investment opportunities in Hainan’s free port is also scheduled.
Following the conference, business visits will occur at various economic zones in Hainan Province, including the Wenchang Space Launch Center and the Yangpu Economic Development Zone.
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