Portugal’s Secretary of State for Economy, João Rui Ferreira, highlighted Morocco’s strategic role as a gateway for Portuguese businesses into Africa during an economic meeting in Rabat on Thursday.
“Morocco offers access to the African Union and the Francophone world,” Ferreira stated at the opening of the Morocco-Portugal economic meeting, themed “Portugal-Morocco: Building the Future in Partnership,” Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported. He added that Morocco’s strategic position also provides opportunities in energy, logistics, and skills development value chains.
Ferreira expressed Portugal’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Morocco through dynamic partnerships between Portuguese and Moroccan businesses and accelerating joint projects.
Ryad Mezzour, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, highlighted the shared hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
The Moroccan minister described it as a chance to deepen ties, improve communication, and foster integration across the economy, energy, and logistics sectors.
Mezzour highlighted Morocco’s transformation and growing competitiveness in various industrial sectors, which now rival or surpass international standards. He underscored the potential for developing joint production capabilities, pointing to strong interest from Portuguese companies in investing in Morocco to strengthen bilateral relations amidst ongoing global shifts.
The two counterparts discussed strategies to enhance economic partnerships, increase investment rates, and boost bilateral trade. Organized by Portugal’s Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) in collaboration with Morocco’s financial arm (CGEM) and the Portuguese Business Confederation (CIP), the event included a panel on investment opportunities in infrastructure, mobility, transport, and telecommunications. It also featured B2B meetings to explore potential partnerships.