By ” investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take 1.000.000 USD and go to Las Vegas”
Morocco is a dynamic and growing economy that links in a unique way, various Markets; USA, Europe, Africa, and MENA region. In addition to being one of the largest African economies, Morocco supports also international investors growth via a business-friendly agenda and through access to a large domestic Market and neighboring international Markets. Thanks to, Free Trade Agreements (FTA), Bilateral Treaties, Multilateral Agreements, and Economic groupings. Such as, Association agreement with European Union (E.U). Since 1996 and Advanced Status with EU market in 2008, FTA with Turkey in 2003, FTA between Arab-Mediterranean countries (Agadir Agreement in 2004 & Agreement with UAE in 2003), and FTA with USA since 2005.
- So to speak, is it the right time to invest in Morocco?
A Very Nice Question, Asked Beautifully…
Well, thanks to many audiovisual, written materials and handouts; studies, graphs, Economic experts views, and specialist essays. They help us to answer this debatable question above, either for Young Moroccan Entrepreneurs living abroad or foreigners who love to, invest in Morocco. As a common point, they explain how current economic and political developments; in the region or worldwide, are affecting Moroccan Market and, investing in Morocco. if you are investor who allocates his money with the expectation of future financial return, and give you pointers on how you can profit.
Seriously speaking, to think of , investing in Real Estate in Morocco, a few years ago would have been dreaming. Yes granted that movie stars and famous musicians have been, buying real estate in Morocco, in the form of Riads and Villas for many years. But until recently this was only offered to the privileged few that could handle high risk and not to the mass market, to purchase real estate in Morocco, with the security of being able to re sell and get your investment back with equity increase.
Investment in Morocco Aids:
Generally, There many forms of government Aids, such as the contributions to finance reception infrastructures, as in acquisition of land and construction of professional buildings.
Investor Protection:
in General, your investments in Morocco, are guaranteed and protected via international conventions relating to the guarantee and protection of investments.
As part of, foreign investment promotion efforts, Morocco has ratified international conventions relating to the guarantee and protection of investment. These include agreements on the establishment of :
- The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes “ICSID”
- The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency “MIGA”
- The Inter-Arab Organization for Investment Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman)
in addition to this, Bilateral agreements and conventions relating to the guarantee and protection of investment.
The promotion of, foreign investment in Morocco, is not only limited to the adherence to international multilateral conventions but extends to the bilateral ones, as part of strengthening relations with key partners. So many treaties, agreements and conventions for the promotion and protection of investments and avoidance of double taxation have been signed throughout the recent decades.
The main provisions of these agreements and conventions concern the following aspects:
- Treatment of permitted investments.
- Free transfer of capital and income.
- The non-expropriation of investment, except for public utility reasons and following a court decision (on a nondiscriminatory basis and to pay a prompt and adequate compensation).
- Disputes with recourse to domestic courts or international arbitration at the choice of the investor.
Non-double Taxation Agreements
Morocco has signed agreements with several countries to avoid double taxation with respect to income tax. These agreements establish the list of taxes and income concerned, the rules for mutual administrative assistance and the principle of non-discrimination.
Investor protection under the national law
Foreign investors benefits from a convertibility regime, which ensures that the investor has the right to:
- Carry out investment operations in Morocco,
- Transfer income produced by these investments abroad,
- Re-transfer income from the liquidation or sale of investments.
Privileged Domains
Either loans or assistance to finance infrastructures.
Privileged Geographical Zones
New Information and Communication Technologies (NITC),
Exporting industries, in particular aeronautics and automobile
industry.
Free Zones:
There are many industrial parks that make investing in Morocco like (Bouskoura, Meknès, … etc.), Technoparks (Casa Technopark, Rabat Technopark, Tangier Technopark,… etc), and free zones (particularly, that one of Tangier, to enjoy tax and special customs benefits. Besides, an offshore banking law covering in Tangier.
Organizations Which Finance:
- The Investments Commission, the Hassan II Funds for Economic and Social development and Funds of Promotion of Investments managed by the Department of Investments.
- The French Development Agency on behalf of its subsidiary company Proparco.
Investment Opportunities:
The Key Sectors of the National Economy
Textile-clothing, tourism.
High Potential Sectors
Call centres, high-technology, agriculture
Privatization Programmes:
Since the last few 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.
In 2008, privatisations related to the food processing sector (seeds and salts in particular) as well as that of construction materials and textiles predominated. In 2009 a number of firms, including the national port operator (Marsa Maroc), were placed on the short list of companies to be privatised in the future.
A partial privatisation of the Moroccan office of phosphates as well as Royal Air Maroc is expected.
Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement :
- Tenders Info, Tenders in Morocco .
- Sectors Where Investment Opportunities Are Fewer .
- Mining sector, Postal services .
- Finding Assistance For Further Information .
Investment Aid Agency :
Other Useful Resources:
Economic Developments and Prospects in Morocco – African Economic Outlook
Doing Business Guides:
- ANIMA Investment Network
- Business methods and recovery in Morocco in 2017 by Business France (in French)
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