Marrakech: Morocco and Brazil, united by a shared history and driven by mutual will, are determined to build a long-lasting partnership for a more integrated, sustainable, and prosperous future, Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence, and the Evaluation of Public Policies, Karim Zidane, said on Wednesday in Marrakech.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Zidane emphasized at the Brazil-Morocco LIDE Forum, a high-level economic gathering attended by over a hundred business and institutional leaders from both countries, that Morocco and Brazil are not only united by a long history but also by a shared vision for the future; a vision of progress through investment and trust-based cooperation.
Zidane highlighted that the ‘historic’ heritage between the two countries serves as the ‘bedrock of an exemplary South-South cooperation,’ underscoring the importance of strengthening this partnership through concrete, mutually beneficial, and action-oriented projects.
Trade between Morocco and Brazil has tripled over the past two decades, reaching over $2.5 billion in 2023, driven by an ‘encouraging dynamic,’ Zidane noted. However, he pointed out that the level of cross-investment remains below its potential, indicating a reservoir of opportunities that remains largely untapped.
Zidane also remarked that the Forum is crucial as it aims to inject ‘new momentum into a relationship based on mutual respect, complementarity, and shared ambition,’ asserting that it is time to ‘reach a new milestone.’
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has positioned itself as a credible economic stakeholder, a regional hub, and a natural bridge between continents, Zidane insisted. This positioning is supported by recognized political, institutional, and economic stability, world-class logistics infrastructures, a young, skilled, and entrepreneurial workforce, and preferential access to a market of over 2.5 billion consumers, facilitated by more than 50 free trade agreements.
Zidane further stressed that Morocco is not just a gateway to Africa but a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Arab world, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Americas.