Looking back at Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin’s official visit to Morocco

At the heart of Moroccan industry

During its stay in the Kingdom, the Swiss delegation had the opportunity to immerse itself in Morocco’s industrial dynamism. Visits were organised, in particular, to the Tanger Med Port Complex, ranked first among ports in the Mediterranean and Africa. The Federal Councillor and his delegation also visited the Swiss industrial group TE Connectivity, a world leader in sensors and connectivity. The rich and busy agenda of this official visit then took the Swiss delegation to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), to the SABCA Maroc plant, which operates in the aeronautics sector, and to the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (aeronautics trades institute).

A series of meetings and talks with Moroccan institutions

Guy Parmelin also met several members of the Moroccan government, notably at the official launch of the first edition of the Morocco-Switzerland Scientific Days on the theme “Water issues in Morocco”, in the presence of Mr Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, and Mr Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. He then held talks with Mr Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Trade and Industry, in the presence of representatives of Swiss companies and organisations, to discuss commercial and industrial investment opportunities in Morocco. “The main objective of my delegation and myself is to discover the Moroccan economic landscape and to assess the opportunities it offers Swiss companies and scientific institutions. Morocco is a geographically close partner that has followed an impressive path of industrialisation and economic development over the last two decades, benefiting from very good infrastructure and an economic openness marked by more than 55 free trade agreements”, Mr Parmelin told us in an exclusive interview with SWISSECO (Read the interview here).

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin also held a working session with Mr Mohcine Jazouli, Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and the Evaluation of Public Policies, as well as with Mr Ali Seddiki, Director General of the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE).

These discussions highlighted Morocco’s advantages as an investment destination, with the facilities and support available to companies wishing to set up there.

This official visit was also an opportunity to present a “Morocco Overview” together with Moroccan economic and institutional players, notably in the presence of Mr Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, Director and Managing Director of BANK OF AFRICA, Ms Imane Zaoui, Managing Director of Nestlé Maroc, Mr Guy Escarfail, Managing Director of SGS Maroc, and Mr Badr Belkadi, Executive Director of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund. Moderated by Mr Christophe de Figueiredo, President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Morocco, this panel addressed issues such as the financing tools that could support investment opportunities, as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), among others.

This visit consolidated relations between Switzerland and Morocco, opening up new prospects for cooperation and strategic partnerships. The two countries are looking towards a promising future, based on solid economic partnerships and an ongoing commitment to innovation and mutual growth.