Morocco Ranks 3rd in Africa for Chinese Investment Potential, Study Finds

Morocco ranks 3rd in the ranking of the 12 African countries most attractive to Chinese investors over the next decade (2024-2033), drawn up by the EIU (The Economist Intelligence Unit) website, a British company belonging to The Economist Group, which provides forecasts and advice to its clients but also provides global analysis to countries, industries and companies. At the global level, the kingdom ranks 33rd out of 80 countries, thus gaining 27 places compared to the 2013 ranking, where it occupied the 60th place. South Africa (13th out of a total of 80 countries) tops the ranking of the African countries most attractive to Chinese investors for the next decade, followed by Egypt (17th global rank). Algeria (38th) ranks 4th. It is followed by Tanzania (42nd), Angola (53rd) and Nigeria (56th). Ethiopia (58th) ranks 8th. Then come Zambia (63rd), the Democratic Republic of Congo (67th) and Kenya (68th). The Republic of Congo (76th) closes the podium.

To draw up its ranking, The Economist Intelligence Unit relied on 200 indicators divided into two main categories (pillars): opportunities and risks. In the first category, the British company assessed market potential (nominal GDP, population size, GDP per capita, population growth rate, etc.); natural resources (oil and gas reserves, arable land area, mineral reserves, etc.); supply chain performance (infrastructure, contribution of the industrial sector to GDP, electricity prices, etc.); and the level of technology and innovation development (R&D spending, patent applications, expected years of schooling, etc.). As for the risk pillar, it covers bilateral relations with China (history of conflicts with Beijing, degree of mastery of the Chinese language, adherence to the New Silk Roads initiative, etc.) and operational and financial risks for foreign investors (level of political stability, security risks, sovereign risk profile, etc.).

Morocco’s appeal is explained by its performance in various indicators, particularly in market expansion and supply chain development. The kingdom is the 9th most attractive destination for China’s supply chain investment. It is also among the 21 destinations "offering more opportunities and less risk" for Chinese investments.