Morocco: Investing

FDI in Figures

According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI flows to Morocco saw a marginal decline of 6% in 2022, totalling USD 2.1 billion. However, announced greenfield investments in the country quadrupled to USD 15 billion, driven in part by Total Eren (Luxembourg), which intends to construct a hydrogen and green ammonia production facility in Morocco with an investment exceeding USD 10 billion. In the same year, the total stock of FDI stood at USD 63.2 billion. The main investing countries in terms of stock are France (30.8%), the UAE (20.3%), Spain (8%), Switzerland (5.7%), and the U.S. (5%); whereas the sectors receiving the most FDI are industry (almost one-fourth), real estate (20%), communication (12.4%), tourism (9.5%), energy and mining (6.4%), and banking (5.7% - data Foreign Exchange Office). In 2022, Morocco has attracted nearly USD 34 billion in greenfield FDI projects, double the previous record set in 2008. Chinese companies, especially in the electric vehicle supply chain, have significantly contributed to this surge. Notable projects include Gotion High-Tech's agreement with the Moroccan government for its first African gigafactory and Huayou Cobalt's plan to invest USD 19.5 billion in an electric vehicle battery components factory. The country has also secured major FDI ventures in renewable energy, chemicals, and tourism. According to the latest figures from the Moroccan Foreign Exchange Office, in the first half of 2023, Morocco recorded a net inflow of foreign direct investments of MAD 16.3 billion, down by 57.2% from the same period one year earlier.

After the positive results of the Industrial Acceleration Plan 2014-2020, a vast project of economic modernisation to attract more FDI, the government launched a second phase for 2021-2025 focused mainly on the consolidation of the achievements made within the framework of the first phase of the plan (which, among other results, created 54 industrial systems in partnership with 32 professional associations and universities in various sectors) and their generalization to all regions, by integrating small and medium enterprises and by placing industry at the heart of technological transformations. Among the reasons to invest in Morocco, there are the relatively low cost of labour, its strategic location between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, good infrastructures, and the stability of the country’s currency and political framework. On the other hand, Morocco still has significant social and regional disparities, weak productivity and low competitiveness and an economy heavily reliant on the price of hydrocarbons and the agricultural sector. Morocco ranks 70th among 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2023, 101st out of 184 on the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom, and 94th out of 180 on the Corruption Perception Index.

What to consider if you invest in Morocco

Protection of Foreign Investment

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Freedom of Establishment

Foreigners can generally invest in the country enjoying the same conditions as locals (a few exemptions apply for specific sectors).

Acquisition of Holdings

Foreign investments in air and maritime transport companies and maritime fisheries are capped at 49%. Foreigners cannot own agricultural land, though they can lease it for up to 99 years. In the oil and gas sector, the National Agency for Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) retains a compulsory share of 25% of any exploration license or development permit. The Moroccan government also has a discretionary right to limit all foreign majority stakes in the capital of large national banks.

Obligation to Declare

Investment system in Morocco is very open as investors do not have to obtain prior approval: they simply have to send the Foreign Exchange Office a report in the six months following the completion of the operation. 

Competent Organisation For the Declaration

Foreign exchange office

Requests For Specific Authorisations

The financial sector has specific regulations, as well as that of hydrocarbons and air and maritime transport.

Office Real Estate and Land Ownership

Possible Temporary Solutions

Consult Instant Offices, CoWorker, Regus, etc.

The Possibility of Buying Land and Industrial and Commercial Buildings

Guaranteed except for the agricultural sectors, where foreigners may only rent the land for up 99 years. However, foreigners may acquire agricultural land in order to carry out an investment or other economic project that is not agricultural in nature, subject to first obtaining a certificate of non-agricultural use from the authorities.

Risk of Expropriation

Expropriation may only occur in the public interest and with a fair compensation. If the State and owner are able to come to agreement on the value, the expropriation is complete, otherwise the amount of compensation will be established by a judge.

Investment Aid

Forms of Aid

Incentives generally take the form of tax exemptions and customs advantages, subsidies for certain expenses related to investment, etc. Tailor-made incentives can be agreed directly with the government for certain investment projects.
Detailed information is available on the official portal Invest in Morocco.

Privileged Domains

In addition to the tax exemptions granted under the common law, Moroccan law provides specific financial, tax and customs advantages to investors, as part of agreements or investment contracts to be concluded with the State, provided that they meet the required criteria. This concerns:
- the contribution of the state to certain investment expenses through the Investment Promotion Fund;
- the contribution of the state to certain expenses for the promotion of investment in specific industrial sectors and the development of modern technologies through the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development;
- exemption from customs duties under Article 7.I of the Finance Act No. 12/98;
- exemption from import VAT under Section 123-22 °-b of the General Tax Code.

Privileged Geographical Zones

The industrial sector has been at the centre of Morocco's investment development policies, through to the country's "Industrial Acceleration Plan" 2014-20 and 2021-25. Furthermore, Morocco is increasingly investing in the energy sector.
The Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) provides incentives for investments in the agricultural sector.

Free-trade zones

There are industrial parks (Bouskoura, Meknès, etc.), technoparks (Casa Technopark) and free zones (which were recently transformed into “Industrial Acceleration Zones”, providing a 15% corporate tax rate following an initial five years of exemption). Furthermore, the government established the Casablanca Finance City (CFC).
To know more about the incentives available in each zone of the country, refer to the list of the regional investment centres.

Public aid and funding organisations

The Investments Commission, the Hassan II Funds for Economic and Social Development and Funds of Promotion of Investments. For further information, visit the dedicated page on the website of Invest in Morocco.
Furthermore, the Caisse Centrale de Garantie (CCG) is a public finance institution which offers co-financing, equity financing, and guarantees.

Investment Opportunities

The Key Sectors of the National Economy

Textile-clothing, tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, automotive.

High Potential Sectors

Call centers, high-technology, green energy (the country has the world’s largest concentrated solar power facility with storage, near Ouarzazate)

Privatization Programmes

In recent years, Morocco has launched an ambitious program of privatisation in many sectors of the economy. The largest privatisations were carried out in the sectors of mobile telephony, finance, tobacco stores and water supply.
Nevertheless, as of March 2021, the Moroccan Treasury held a direct share in 225 state-owned enterprises and 43 companies, including telecommunications companies, banks, and insurance companies, as well as railway and air transport companies (US Department of State).
The government relaunched Morocco’s privatization program before the Covid-19 pandemic but the plan was delayed. The 2022 budget schedules the privatisation of Marsa Maroc, Maroc Telecom, La Mamounia, Energie Electrique de Tahaddart (EET), Biopharma and Sonacos.

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement

Tenders Info , Tenders in Morocco
Global Tenders , Tenders in Morocco
MCA Morocco

Sectors Where Investment Opportunities Are Fewer

Monopolistic Sectors

The Moroccan government holds a monopoly on phosphate extraction through the 95% state-owned Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP). Moreover, several sectors remain under public monopoly, managed either directly by public institutions (rail transport, some postal services, and airport services) or by municipalities (wholesale distribution of fruit and vegetables, fish, and slaughterhouses).

Finding Assistance For Further Information

Investment Aid Agency

Moroccan Investments and Exports Development Agency (AMDIE)

Other Useful Resources

List of Regional Investment Centres
Invest in Africa (IIA)
Attractiveness of investment in Africa (EY)

Doing Business Guides

World Bank's Doing Business - Morocco
Doing Business in Morocco (PKF International)
Doing Business in Morocco (UHY)

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