From Trade Exchange to Joint Investment: Moroccan-Turkish Partnership Enters a New Phase
A few days ago, Morocco welcomed Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu, leading a delegation of more than twenty companies from various industrial and production sectors. This visit follows discussions held by the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Hajjiira, with Turkish officials in Ankara last June, signaling a new phase in economic relations between Rabat and Ankara.
In recent years, Morocco has transformed into an economic hub in the region, no longer just a side market but a significant player in global power dynamics. Its geographical location and network of trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, and Africa have made it an indispensable gateway for anyone seeking to expand into the African continent.
The presence of such a large Turkish delegation reflects Ankara’s recognition of this status. This is affirmed by political analyst Ihab Alkiyali, residing in Istanbul, who stated in an exclusive interview with “Express TV” that “Turkey sees Morocco as a partner balancing proximity to Europe with openness to the African depth.” He added that “the partnership is no longer confined to trade exchange; it has entered a new phase centered on joint investment, reinforcing both Turkey’s and Morocco’s positions within Africa.”
However, trade remains one of the major unresolved issues between the two countries. Since signing the free trade agreement in 2006, Ankara has benefited more than Rabat, which prompted Morocco to review the agreement in 2020 and impose amendments to protect its domestic industries. Currently, Rabat is pushing for an advanced phase, expanding the list of Moroccan products entering the Turkish market with facilitated conditions and encouraging direct Turkish investments in the Kingdom.
Alkiyali emphasized in his statement to “Express TV” that “there is a clear trend toward local production projects aimed at export, particularly in manufacturing, renewable energy, and logistics services,” noting that Ankara has come to realize that investing inside Morocco is more advantageous than merely exporting to it.
The recent Moroccan-Turkish meeting concluded with the establishment of a roadmap for cooperation, covering the textile sector, automotive production and components, food industries, renewable energy, construction and building materials, aviation, and modern technologies. The two sides also agreed to organize joint economic forums, the most notable being a business forum scheduled to be held in Istanbul in mid-November, aimed at translating understandings into actionable projects.
Morocco, for its part, aims to enhance its industrial and energy presence and impose conditions that ensure a more balanced relationship. This reflects its transformation into a key player that sets the rules of the game, placing itself in a position of an indispensable partner.
Today, the reality reveals that Morocco is no longer merely a stop in the calculations of global powers; it has become an obligatory passage for anyone wishing to establish a foothold in the African continent. Turkey, like China and France before it, is now compelled to acknowledge that Morocco is no longer a “secondary party,” but a central hub defining partnership rules and asserting itself as a critical player in the equation of economic and geopolitical influence in the region.
