Morocco’s Economic Diplomacy in Africa: The Key Principles

Morocco’s economic strategy in Africa is based on four fundamental principles that guide its action on the African continent, ensuring deliberate and sustainable growth for the country’s economy. The first principle focuses on maximising continental value by transforming raw materials into finished products. Over 80% of African exports are still raw materials such as mining products, hydrocarbons, and agricultural products. Morocco seeks to transform this trend by investing in the production of phosphate fertilisers. One such investment includes the construction of fertiliser plants in Nigeria and Togo to directly transform phosphate into fertiliser, significantly increasing the value of the final product.

Additionally, Morocco adopts an ecosystem approach to development to facilitate the inclusion of various actors in its economy. This inclusive approach allows for cooperative competition, creating a learning environment that fosters growth and improvement of skills and knowledge.

Another crucial principle of Morocco’s strategy is ensuring sustainability in the development model. This involves focusing on the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of natural ecosystems to contribute to the prosperity of local populations and the continent’s economic and technological development. Morocco has continuously launched national plans and strategies aimed at conserving and reinforcing biodiversity, formalising a new national biodiversity strategy and action plan since 2016.

Lastly, Morocco is committed to realising the concept of “one continent equals infrastructure” to enhance economic cooperation in Africa. This approach aims to optimise major infrastructure projects that guarantee better connectivity while attracting more investment for development projects in Africa. The continent is estimated to need around $6 trillion to cover its infrastructure deficit, making the realisation of this principle critical for Africa’s economic development.

In conclusion, Morocco’s continental strategy in Africa is driven by well-defined principles aimed at maximising value, fostering growth, ensuring sustainability, and enhancing economic cooperation. These principles form the bedrock of Morocco’s economic diplomacy in Africa, making the country a key player in the continent’s economic landscape.