The Casablanca Financial Hub in Service of African Integration
The Director General of the Casablanca Financial Hub, Said El Abrahimi, affirmed that the institution’s dynamism is driven by a clear will, embodied in the royal vision for African integration.
According to Mr. El Abrahimi, “the speech of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in Abidjan in 2014 set a clear path: Africa believes in Africa, and Morocco plays its full role in achieving this ambition.”
In an interview with the Moroccan News Agency, on the sidelines of the fourth Europe-Africa Forum, a business meeting that gathered business leaders, investors, and decision-makers from both continents this week in Marseille, with Morocco as a guest of honor, the general director pointed out that “this vision has been notably realized through increased investments in the continent and through an active and coherent economic diplomacy.”
Mr. El Abrahimi confirmed that “the results are tangible,” noting that Morocco has today become the second-largest African investor in the continent, directing more than 40 percent of its foreign direct investment flows towards Sub-Saharan Africa.”
He explained that “this financial offering is based on a robust infrastructure, such as the Tangier Med Port, the largest port in Africa, and a dense air network, in addition to several strong trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, and many African countries.”
According to him, “the Casablanca Financial Hub is the practical extension of this vision,” adding that the center provides European groups with a framework that meets international standards, granting them direct access to African markets.
Mr. El Abrahimi highlighted that “the hub also plays the role of a strategic observatory,” noting that the institution publishes in-depth analyses on major economic and financial transformations in the continent – such as those dedicated to the African Continental Free Trade Area – to inform decision-makers in Europe and Africa.
He continued, stating: “In other words, the role of the financial hub is not limited to directing capital flows; it also works to structure economic systems, share economic information, and support the development of necessary skills for achieving sustainable development.”
The official emphasized that “this convergence between the strategic vision, regional positioning, and global ambition is what makes the Casablanca Financial Hub a real lever for economic transformation at the continental level,” highlighting that “Morocco combines institutional stability, geographic proximity, regulatory alignment with the European Union, and deep economic ties with the African continent.”
He confirmed that the revival recorded in foreign direct investment flows in 2024, exceeding 55 percent, clearly reflects this transformation, stressing that “Morocco is no longer just a transit point; it has become a focal point.”
In the context of redirecting foreign investments towards the logic of “economic friendship,” Mr. El Abrahimi considered that the Casablanca Financial Hub represents a “reliable alternative,” as it allows European economic actors to access an attractive business environment and a legal framework that complies with the best international standards.
He explained that “our partnerships with 24 national and international investment development agencies contribute to facilitating access to the continent’s markets, especially in strategic sectors like renewable energies, infrastructure, and finance.”
He noted that the hub comprises nearly 240 members, including 50 French companies, reinforcing Morocco’s position as a “link” between the two continents, adding that “this mediation capability, in a complex world, has become a true geo-economic asset.”
In this context, Mr. El Abrahimi highlighted the “rare equation” that combines an integrated financial system and infrastructure at the continental level in the city of Casablanca, explaining its growing attractiveness as a gateway to Africa.
He stated that “the city hosts the headquarters of major Moroccan banks and insurance companies, boasts the third-largest stock exchange in Africa, and has an airport connecting it to more than 100 destinations across three continents,” also pointing to the availability of a multilingual workforce and competitive stability costs.
On another note, the director general reminded of the Casablanca Financial Hub’s commitment to supporting sustainable finance, noting that the hub “contributed to preparing a roadmap, in coordination with the Moroccan financial authorities, and is currently working with the deposit and management fund to establish a voluntary carbon market with a regional dimension.”
He added that the Casablanca Financial Hub “is an active member of the United Nations Sustainable Financial Centers Network (FC4S) and has been leading the global alliance of international financial centers since 2025,” and “recently joined the financing initiative under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP FI) as a supporting entity.”
Mr. El Abrahimi concluded by stating: “This engagement marks a new phase in our commitment to accelerate the transition towards responsible and sustainable African financing,” stressing that international actors choose Casablanca for this dual positioning: “as an integrated operational hub within global value chains and a safe, innovative environment that meets sustainability requirements.”
