Morocco and OECD deepen cooperation as economic ties expand

Monday 07 September 2026 - 15:04

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco and OECD deepen cooperation as economic ties expand

Morocco is seeking to deepen its strategic cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as the country continues to pursue economic and social reforms aimed at strengthening competitiveness and attracting investment.

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch held talks in Paris on Monday with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, where both sides highlighted the development of their long-standing partnership and discussed opportunities for a new phase of cooperation.

Akhannouch praised the quality of relations between Morocco and the OECD, which date back to 2005 and have gradually developed into one of the kingdom’s most structured partnerships with an international organisation. He noted that Morocco was among the first non-member countries to benefit from the OECD’s country programme, which has since been renewed twice.

Morocco is currently involved in 13 OECD bodies and participates in more than 30 of the organisation’s mechanisms. According to Akhannouch, this engagement reflects the country’s approach to policymaking, which places emphasis on reform, measuring results, benchmarking against international best practices and expanding successful programmes.

Cormann, for his part, described Morocco as the OECD’s longest-standing partner in the region and welcomed the reforms undertaken by the kingdom, particularly in the social sector. He also highlighted the country’s economic prospects and its potential for further development.

The two officials expressed satisfaction with the launch of a new stage in bilateral cooperation, including initiatives centred on the Morocco-OECD Economic Office and the Morocco-OECD-West Africa project. The projects are intended to broaden the scope of economic cooperation and strengthen links between Morocco, the OECD and emerging African economies.

The partnership also reflects Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a bridge between international economic institutions, emerging markets and Africa. Such a role could strengthen the country’s participation in discussions on investment, competitiveness, trade and global value chains.

Economic relations provide an important foundation for this cooperation. In 2025, trade between Morocco and OECD member countries reached $87.4 billion, accounting for approximately 68% of Morocco’s foreign trade. The scale of these exchanges gives the partnership particular importance as Rabat seeks to attract investment, expand industrial capacity and strengthen its integration into international markets.

The latest talks in Paris therefore come as Morocco continues to use international partnerships to support its economic transformation. Cooperation with the OECD is expected to remain an important platform for policy development, competitiveness reforms and closer integration with advanced and emerging economies.