Morocco and Russia sign bilateral investment protection agreement

Sunday 12 October 2025 - 13:30

By: Sahili Aya

Morocco and Russia sign bilateral investment protection agreement

Russia is preparing to sign a bilateral agreement with Morocco to protect and promote investments, reflecting Moscow’s aim to strengthen its economic presence in Africa and diversify trade partnerships beyond traditional markets. This follows six similar agreements already concluded with other African countries.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, the upcoming agreement is part of a broader plan to increase trade between Russia and Africa by 1.5 to 2 times by 2030. Pavel Kalmytchik, director of bilateral cooperation at the ministry, highlighted Africa as “one of the most promising regions in the world in terms of economic growth” and described Russia and Africa as “natural partners in trade and economic development.”

Russia’s priority is to finalize a series of investment protection agreements with countries including Morocco, Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso. These agreements aim to create a secure legal framework for investors and encourage joint projects across various sectors.

Bilateral trade between Russia and Africa exceeded $27 billion in 2024, with North African countries representing nearly 70% of that total. Morocco has become a major supplier of fruits and berries to Russia, with imports reaching approximately 1.3 million tonnes between January 1 and August 8, 2025—an 8% increase from the previous year. Bananas led the imports with 837,000 tonnes, followed by pears (84,000 t) and mandarins (59,000 t), alongside apples, lemons, grapes, pineapples, and watermelons.

Russia’s agricultural exports to Morocco also surged, tripling in 2024 to reach $280 million, driven mainly by wheat exports, which increased more than threefold. Morocco resumed imports of Russian sunflower oil after nearly five years and imported oilcakes for livestock feed for the first time since 2015.

The growth in trade occurs within a favorable political climate, with Morocco maintaining a “balanced” position on the Russia–Ukraine war. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Baïbakov has emphasized Morocco as a friendly and strategic partner, noting that relations between the two countries have endured geopolitical tensions and economic crises, reinforced by agreements signed in 2016 between President Vladimir Putin and HM King Mohammed VI.