MOROCCO-FRANCE: Strong potential for business opportunities.
16 January 2015
Read by 2029 persons
Mohammed Amrabt headed the Paris office of the Moroccan Agency for Investment Development (AMDI) for several years, a position he recently left as part of a restructuring of Moroccan investment structures. AMDI has also recently changed its director, with Hamid Belfadil replacing Ahmed Fassi Fihri. Mohammed Amrabt shares his views on the new directions of Moroccan investments towards new horizons, to the detriment of France, Morocco's main trading partner.
While Morocco's political relations with France have deteriorated, the business sector still has a strong appetite for Morocco. In a few years, Morocco has established itself comfortably in France. Significant work has been done, although not in all French regions. Much potential exists, particularly in the SME and ETI sectors. Due to the economic crisis, many SMEs are trying to internationalize, and Morocco is an important step for them. The move upmarket, especially in high value-added activities, is also attracting several companies, but limitations exist in Morocco, particularly regarding the availability of a skilled workforce. We are in high demand from these companies and requests are very numerous.
A new industrial vision
Our leaders are very quick in their choices. You don't manage the economic development of an entire country like you manage a private firm. The parameters are far more numerous and complex, as are the stakes and the international environment. Today, we have several opportunities, and I maintain that it is with our European and African strategic partners that we can meet these challenges. It's true that Asia and America are new markets for our country. We cannot create more than 500,000 jobs solely with China in a very short time. China has not yet finished its local development, and salaries remain very low for us to be able to build our new strategy on these assumptions. Cultural and linguistic distances need more time to be reduced. I find that our plan is too premature compared to the current state of China. The European crisis is very temporary; its wealth and potential remain and will remain important. We must not stray from the path and lose our capitalization following a temporary storm amplified by those who envy us. Africa is also the continent of tomorrow. Our priority is to consolidate the efforts undertaken by His Majesty the King during his recent visits. The announced regionalization, which is arriving a little late, is a considerable asset to give everyone a chance and to prevent a handful of people from holding the destiny of an entire region hostage. Moroccans residing abroad (more than 5 million, whose income is twice that of the entire Morocco with its 35 million inhabitants) is an under-exploited, even neglected, axis by the administration, and our strategic vision must take them into account. Morocco's priority must be education and training. It is future generations who will meet the challenge in innovative sectors. We must stop the culture of clans, which divides a society into several speeds, in order to free the country's vital forces in a calm and transparent climate.
Mohammed Amrabt, former head of the AMDI office in Paris
Afriqueinside.com
Published January 15, 2015.
Posted online January 16, 2015.
While Morocco's political relations with France have deteriorated, the business sector still has a strong appetite for Morocco. In a few years, Morocco has established itself comfortably in France. Significant work has been done, although not in all French regions. Much potential exists, particularly in the SME and ETI sectors. Due to the economic crisis, many SMEs are trying to internationalize, and Morocco is an important step for them. The move upmarket, especially in high value-added activities, is also attracting several companies, but limitations exist in Morocco, particularly regarding the availability of a skilled workforce. We are in high demand from these companies and requests are very numerous.
A new industrial vision
Our leaders are very quick in their choices. You don't manage the economic development of an entire country like you manage a private firm. The parameters are far more numerous and complex, as are the stakes and the international environment. Today, we have several opportunities, and I maintain that it is with our European and African strategic partners that we can meet these challenges. It's true that Asia and America are new markets for our country. We cannot create more than 500,000 jobs solely with China in a very short time. China has not yet finished its local development, and salaries remain very low for us to be able to build our new strategy on these assumptions. Cultural and linguistic distances need more time to be reduced. I find that our plan is too premature compared to the current state of China. The European crisis is very temporary; its wealth and potential remain and will remain important. We must not stray from the path and lose our capitalization following a temporary storm amplified by those who envy us. Africa is also the continent of tomorrow. Our priority is to consolidate the efforts undertaken by His Majesty the King during his recent visits. The announced regionalization, which is arriving a little late, is a considerable asset to give everyone a chance and to prevent a handful of people from holding the destiny of an entire region hostage. Moroccans residing abroad (more than 5 million, whose income is twice that of the entire Morocco with its 35 million inhabitants) is an under-exploited, even neglected, axis by the administration, and our strategic vision must take them into account. Morocco's priority must be education and training. It is future generations who will meet the challenge in innovative sectors. We must stop the culture of clans, which divides a society into several speeds, in order to free the country's vital forces in a calm and transparent climate.
Mohammed Amrabt, former head of the AMDI office in Paris
Afriqueinside.com
Published January 15, 2015.
Posted online January 16, 2015.
