Morocco-Spain Economic Council Aims to Boost Investment and Expand Market Access

"We agree on the need to reactivate our exchanges and make them fruitful. We want to build something different, prioritizing the investment component. Even if trade exchanges are important, Spain is only the third largest investor in the kingdom," said Adil Raiss in an interview with H24info, adding that the two countries want to establish a "win-win partnership".

To support his words, Adil Raiss explains that "Morocco, thanks to Spain, wants greater openness to Latin American markets. For its part, Spain would like to establish itself in Africa, obviously through Morocco." The co-president of the Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES) is convinced that the two countries can "build something great together...".

Regarding the reopening of the borders of Ceuta and Melilla on May 17, Adil Raiss supported that "the smuggling market should not resume as before", calling for a "more official, transparent and structured trade exchange, in order to allow the cities of Tetouan or Nador to develop by having a solid economy". The official also reassured that a dozen projects are underway in the industrial zone of Fnideq.

The development of the Sahara through possible Spanish investments was also mentioned, in connection with Spain’s recent change of position on the Sahara. "We are open to any proposal. It is obvious that we have [...] a lot of things to do, whether in the fishing or agriculture sector, to name only those. I don’t think it’s a taboo issue. It’s a path we need to explore and I believe that several Spanish companies will agree to get involved and work in this part of the kingdom," Raiss stressed.