Under the theme of a “Promising Economic Partnership,” Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan Al-Khatib inaugurated the Egyptian-Moroccan Investment and Trade Forum in the presence of his Moroccan counterpart Omar Hejira on Sunday in Cairo.
The event came in the wake of a crisis in trade relations between the two countries two months ago. In February, Egyptian exports remained stuck for days at Moroccan ports without any known reasons or warning.
Exporters at the time suggested that the cause of the crisis might be complaints from Moroccan companies about competing Egyptian exports in the Moroccan market due to their high quality and low price compared to other products, along with the Moroccan side’s concern that trade exchanges were favouring Egypt.
According to the Moroccan trade minister, Moroccan exports to Egypt represent only six per cent of the annual trade exchange between the two countries, which totals around $1 billion.
Egyptian Trade Minister Al-Khatib noted that current trade figures do not reflect Morocco’s true potential, especially given the many opportunities available in the Egyptian market.
More than 2,000 business-to-business meetings were held during this week’s forum, bringing together key players from various sectors and paving the way for long-term cooperation, Alaa Ezz, secretary-general of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), told Al-Ahram Weekly.
The sectors included agriculture and food products, seafood, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, automotive components, home appliances, renewable energy equipment, and various industrial and engineering products.
Ismail Abdel-Aziz, president of the Egyptian-Moroccan Businessmen’s Association, affirmed the strong will of the two countries to deepen economic relations, especially given the investment incentives currently offered by Egypt.
He added that Morocco is actively working to increase its exports to Egypt as part of a strategy to enhance bilateral trade, a topic regularly addressed in meetings between business leaders from both sides.
According to Nizar Abu Ismail, president of the Egyptian-Moroccan Business Council, the Council aims to increase Egypt’s imports from Morocco to $100 million this year. These will include cars as well as flavour enhancers, juice concentrates, and fertilisers. Egypt’s imports from Morocco, mainly cars, amounted to just $80 million in 2024.
Abdel-Aziz pointed to Morocco’s strong automotives industry, which exported $14 billion worth of cars last year. It aims to increase production to 2.5 million vehicles in 2025, up from one million last year. Morocco has also begun producing electric vehicles, although these are still being tested within the local market.
“We will open the door for over 1,000 Moroccan cars to enter Egypt during 2025,” Ezz said.
Besides automotives, Morocco’s industrial landscape is diverse, covering sectors such as cosmetics, textiles, and agriculture, Abdel-Aziz added.
According to Samih Zaki, head of the Exporters Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, Egypt welcomes products from all countries that meet its specific market standards, particularly those covered by agreements granting competitive advantages for consumers.
Egyptian exports to Morocco include ceramics, food products, vegetables, fruit, iron, cement, coke, agricultural commodities, and electrical appliances.
Besides trade, there is strong political will to boost Moroccan investments in Egypt, Moroccan Minister Omar Hejira affirmed. He announced the launch of practical measures, including a fast-track system for Moroccan products and simpler procedures for product registration and approval in the Egyptian market.
Moroccan companies already invest in several sectors in Egypt, including wood manufacturing and car batteries, and these investments are expected to grow, driven by the size and potential of the Egyptian market.
Abdel-Aziz stressed the importance of aligning regulations and industrial standards between the two nations. Morocco follows standards close to those of the European Union, largely due to its geographic proximity to Europe, making harmonisation with Egyptian standards beneficial for both sides.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of the two countries’ locations — Egypt in Northeast Africa and Morocco in the Northwest — which could allow Egyptian goods to flow into West African markets such as Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, while Moroccan products could reach markets in East Africa.
He added that Egyptian and Moroccan products enjoy mutual customs exemptions under agreements such as the Agadir Agreement, creating more opportunities for trade and investment.
On a similar note, Ahmed Al-Wakil, president of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), stressed the importance of using Egypt and Morocco as logistical hubs for entering markets in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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