Analysis

Domestic and regional efforts under way to adapt Moroccan agriculture industry to climate change
OBG
plus

Prior to hosting the COP22 UN Conference on Climate Change, Morocco announced the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change (AAA), which seeks to channel international funding into the sector. Launched in April 2016, it promotes projects to improve soil management, agricultural water control, capacity building, climate risk management and funding solutions targeting…

Analysis

New export strategy and facilities upgrades to citrus production in Morocco
OBG
plus

Citrus fruit production has seen notable growth in recent years. However, the segment struggles to take full advantage of expanding output due to a lack of packaging facilities, which has led to losses and a drop in quality. The authorities are promoting supply chain coordination and integration to address these issues. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development,…

Analysis

Tourism in Tangiers, Morocco increasingly integral to regional development
OBG
plus

The municipality of Tangiers has optimised its business and leisure tourism offerings to match increasing international demand, benefitting from its proximity to Morocco’s major source markets in Europe, its breadth of cultural and historical tourism products and the rising presence of large multinationals. GROWING PLANS: In 2013 a regional development plan (contrat programme régional,…

Analysis

Large-scale infrastructure projects in Tangiers transforming and diversifying Morocco
OBG
plus

While the successful implementation of the Tangiers-Metropolis programme has played a key role in boosting the city’s development, a number of large-scale projects made crucial advances in 2017. Moving forward it is the construction, expansion and modernisation of roads, rail links, hospitality infrastructures and ports that continue to establish Tangiers’ position as a diversifying smart…

Analysis

New strategies engender source market diversification of Morocco's tourism sector
OBG
plus

Faced with a downturn in visitors from traditional source markets located in Europe, in 2015 the Moroccan government adopted a series of measures aimed at diversifying its source markets, which included the creation of air connections to new destinations and the rollout of targeted travel promotion initiatives. EMERGING MARKETS: Non-traditional source markets represented an important source…

Analysis

Morocco plans to add 10 GW of power from renewable energy sources by 2030
OBG
plus

Demand for electricity in Morocco has grown rapidly in recent years as a result of steady economic development. Estimates suggest that the country’s installed generation capacity will have to be tripled in order to meet rising demand, which has expanded by an estimated 6-7% annually in recent years. The primary challenge lies in determining how to simultaneously increase electricity supply…

Analysis

Reversing the VoIP ban a step forward for Morocco's mobile segment
OBG
plus

For up to a year in 2015 and 2016 Moroccans were prevented from making free voice calls using voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) apps, which have become a key communication tool across most telecoms markets. It was a contentious decision that led to vociferous objections among consumers. By November 2016 the ban was reversed and the use of VoIP apps was permitted. The reversal was welcomed…

Analysis

Meeting demand, reducing emissions and easing urban traffic key priorities for Moroccan transport sector
OBG
plus

As Morocco’s main urban centres become increasingly congested in the face of population growth, economic development and migration from rural areas, the need for improved urban transport systems has become more acute. Authorities have reacted by ramping up investment policy interventions in recent years. Notable projects include new or extended tram systems in Casablanca and Rabat, the rollout…

Analysis

Reforms channels foreign investment into key economic sectors in Morocco
OBG
plus

A large part of Morocco’s ability to post stable growth rates over the past several years has been its capacity to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). An influx of investment has translated into new industrial developments, telecommunications expansion, tourism projects, energy production and infrastructure builds. Although the amount of FDI inflows registered a small reduction in 2016…

Analysis

Morocco builds its connections with African economies
OBG
plus

With an emphasis on diversifying its commercial partners, Morocco’s African strategy has sought to raise the kingdom’s political and economic profile, and extending its clout across the continent. Over the past decade, Moroccan investments in several African countries have been channelled towards financial services, industrial production and construction. Much of this economic drive has…