Last updated: July 5th, 2021
The Kingdom of Morocco is a country with enormous economic potential. It is located on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coasts in northwest Africa and is therefore the gateway to the African market for goods from America and Europe. The capital is Rabat on the western Atlantic coast. The economic center is Casablanca. Morocco has around 36 million inhabitants.
As head of state, HM King Mohammed VI has initiated a transformation process through political reforms and the path of economic liberalization since he ascended the throne in 1999. Thanks to a constitutional reform in 2011, the king always appoints the leader of the strongest parliamentary group as prime minister after the parliamentary elections. Saadeddine Othmani has been running the government since March 2017. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for the fall of 2021.
The economic dynamism can be seen in Morocco’s GDP growth from almost 38 billion US dollars in 2000 to 113.5 billion US dollars in 2020. This enormous economic success was achieved despite the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008 and the political upheavals in the region since 2011. Investors benefit from stable exchange rates and relatively moderate inflation rates.
The agricultural sector, in which about 34 percent of all jobs can still be found today, is of vital importance. State structural programs support it with the aim of creating sustainable and environmentally conscious agriculture. The country’s infrastructure is constantly being expanded. Since 2018, Morocco is host to the first high-speed railway system in Africa. Several major ports have also opened since the early 2010s or are in the process of expansion. There are ultra-modern universities such as the Mid-Park with research facilities for nanotechnology and microelectronics. Moreover, the world’s largest solar power plant is located in Morocco and the expansion of renewable energies is flourishing.
Economically speaking, a modern transport and telecommunications infrastructure, low production costs, and the proximity to the European market speak for Morocco. In addition, investment incentives and tax advantages attract the automotive industry (assembly, supply), aeronautics, and call centers. The 2020 Doing Business Index published by the World Bank now ranks Morocco 53rd in the world thanks to a strong improvement by six percent.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit the tourism sector hard, which had accounted for nearly a fifth of GDP in 2019. In addition, drought struck agriculture, resulting in a seven percent contraction of the GDP in 2020. Government rose to the challenge, though, establishing a strategic investment fund to support the private sector and restructure social protection as well as the network of state-owned businesses. This is expected to make the economy more stable in the medium and long term.
- Ministère de l’Agriculture, de la Pêche Maritime, du Développement Rural et des Eaux et Forêts (EN, FR and AR)
- Ministère de l’Aménagement du Territoire National, de l’Urbanisme, de l’Habitat et de la Politique de la ville (FR)
- Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (EN, FR and AR)
- Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances (various languages)
- Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de la Formation Professionnelle de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (FR and AR)
- Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines et du Développement Durable (EN, FR, AR)
- Ministère de l’Equipement, du Transport, de la Logistique et de l’Eau (FR and AR)
- Ministère de la Famille, de la Solidarité, de l’Egalité et du Développement Social (FR and AR)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (EN, FR and AR)
- Ministère des Habous et des Affaires Islamiques (FR and AR)
- Ministère de l’Industrie, de l’Investissement, du Commerce et de l’Economie Numérique (EN, FR and AR)
- Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports (FR and AR)
- Ministry of Justice and Freedoms (AR)
- Ministère de la Santé (FR and AR)
- Ministère du Tourisme, du Transport Aérien, de l ‘Artisanat et de l’Economie Sociale (various languages)
- Ministère du Travail et de l’Insertion Professionnelle (EN, FR, AR and Amazighe)
- Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et de Services (Agadir) (FR)
- Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et de Services (Casablanca) (FR)
- Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et de Services (Rabat-Salé-Kénitra) (various languages)
- Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et de Services (Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima) (FR, EN, AR and ES)
- German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco (AHK) (DE and FR)
- Fédération des Chambres Marocaines de Commerce, d’Industrie et de Services (Facebook)
- Africa Intelligence (EN and FR)
- Africatimes (EN)
- Afrik-News (FR)
- Agence Marocaine de Presse – Moroccan Press Agency (various languages)
- Al-Alam (AR)
- Albawaba (EN and AR)
- allAfrica (EN and FR)
- Al Maghribia (AR)
- Assabah (AR)
- Bayane Al Yaoume (AR)
- EIN News (EN)
- Jeune Afrique (FR)
- La Nouvelle Tribune (FR)
- L’Economiste (FR)
- Le Matin (FR)
- L’Observateur (FR)
- Maroc Press (EN, FR and AR)
- Menara (FR and AR)
- Morocco World News (EN)
- NewsNow (EN)
- ReliefWeb (EN)
- The Economist (EN)
- Agence Nationale pour l’Efficacité Énergétique (EN, FR, AR and ES)
- AMDI – Agence Marocaine de Développement des Investissements (EN, FR and AR)
- Bank al-Maghrib (Central Bank) (EN, FR and AR)
- BMZ Morocco (DE and EN)
- Bourse de Casablanca – Casablanca Stock Exchange (EN, FR and AR)
- Center Régional d’Investissement de l’Oriental (FR)
- Center Régional d’Investissement du Grand Casablanca (CasaInvest) (EN, FR, AR and TF)
- Center Régional d’Investissement (Rabat – Salé – Kénitra) (FR)
- Center Régional d’Investissement Tanger – Tétouan – Al Hoceima (FR)
- CGEM – Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (FR and AR)
- The travel guide – Morocco (DE)
- GIZ Morocco (DE and EN)
- Goethe Institute Morocco (DE and FR)
- Information Exchange Morocco (DE)
- L’Agence de l’Oriental (FR)
- Moroccan Forum – information and discussion (DE)
- ONEP – Office Nationale de l’Electricité et de; l’Eau Potable (ONEP – Water Department) (FR and AR)
- ONEP – Office Nationale de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable – Industry Electricité (ONEP – Electricity Department) (FR and AR)
- Secrétariat d’Etat auprès du Ministre de l’Equipement, du Transport, de la Logistique et de l’Eau, Chargé de l’Eau (FR and AR)
- State Tourist Office of Morocco (various languages)
- Sympathie Magazine – Morocco (DE)
Current tenders