Africa-Press. Morocco and India are seeking to expand their economic partnership by increasing trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and technology exchange in emerging sectors. This initiative was discussed during a meeting of officials from both countries in Rabat as part of the seventh session of the Morocco-India Joint Committee.
The meeting, held on Monday, was chaired by Omar Hajira, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry and Trade responsible for foreign trade in Morocco, and Jitin Prasada, Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Electronics and Information Technology, with participation from officials and representatives of the business sector from both nations.
The meeting comes as Morocco aims to diversify its trade partnerships and enhance its presence in Asian markets as part of the 2025-2027 foreign trade roadmap, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade.
$4.4 Billion Trade Volume
Trade between Morocco and India has increased at an average annual rate of 12.4% since 2021, rising from approximately $2.9 billion to $4.4 billion by 2025, according to the ministry.
India is currently Morocco’s fourth-largest export market and its tenth-largest supplier.
The Moroccan official emphasized that there is significant potential to expand economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly through investment, industrial partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfer.
Discussions focused on sectors including automotive, aviation, textiles, pharmaceuticals, recycling, and construction materials, as well as cooperation in digitization, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and public digital infrastructure.
$1.4 Billion in Additional Export Opportunities for Morocco
The two sides also discussed accelerating negotiations regarding customs procedures, according to the ministry.
Available data indicates substantial trade opportunities between the two markets; Morocco has additional export opportunities estimated at around $1.4 billion in India, while India has potential additional exports to Morocco valued at approximately $1.2 billion, according to the ministry.
Economic discussions also included the Moroccan and Indian business communities, aiming to explore ways to convert these opportunities into tangible investment projects and trade exchanges.
50 Companies Exploring Investment Opportunities
The broader economic meeting included representatives from about 50 Moroccan and Indian companies, focusing on mutual investment opportunities in strategic sectors, including technology, renewable energy, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
Indian officials expressed interest in enhancing Morocco’s role as a gateway to African markets, while Indian companies are seeking opportunities to participate in large-scale Moroccan projects.
Transitioning to Higher Value-Added Industries
Both countries are also looking to move beyond traditional areas of cooperation towards higher value-added industries, including advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, renewable energy, and other high-tech sectors.
The joint committee concluded its work by signing two memorandums of understanding.
The first establishes a cultural exchange program for the period 2026-2030, while the second links the Moroccan National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) with Indian food safety and standards authorities.
The two sides also signed an agreement to create a working group to monitor the implementation of the decisions reached.
