Agadir – Morocco’s ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, engaged in a high-level meeting in Manchester to showcase Morocco’s investment potential to a wide range of British business leaders to strengthen the growing economic ties between the two countries.
Speaking during the meeting on Friday, ambassador Hajoui noted that the talks are part of a broader framework of the long-standing partnership between Morocco and the UK, underlining over eight centuries of diplomatic relations.
He pointed that bilateral cooperation has gained renewed momentum following the Strategic Dialogue held last year on June 1 in Rabat, which elevated ties to a strong strategic partnership.
Such initiatives, he said, paves the way for expanded collaboration across key sectors including energy, industry, infrastructure, technology, innovation, tourism, and agriculture.
Hajoui emphasized that northern England, particularly Manchester, has a significant role to play in Morocco-UK relations, pointing to Morocco’s progress in infrastructure, industrial development, and renewable energy under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
These advances, combined with political stability and sustained reforms, offer investors enhanced visibility and long-term growth prospects.
He further explained Morocco’s strategic geographic position as a gateway to Africa, positioning the country as a key partner for businesses seeking access to emerging markets.
Opportunities across different sectors such as financial services, digitalization, green hydrogen, clean energy, and agriculture enable Morocco to appeal as an attractive destination for investments, alongside prospects linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Beyond the economic relations, Morocco and the UK share strong political ties. The UK has joined the growing list of countries that support Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for peace in the Sahara.
The UK reaffirmed this position ” following high-level talks in London between UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on April 23.
Following the meeting, UK Vice Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy has highlighted steady progress in the strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries on April 23.
Speaking after his own meeting with Bourita, Lammy described bilateral relations as entering a “new era,” underlining growing cooperation in areas such as defence, energy, maritime security, food security, water management, health, and broader regional stability, while also noting accelerating economic coordination nearly a year into the renewed partnership framework.
He further pointed to expanding joint engagement linked to infrastructure and investment opportunities around the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with British firms involved in discussions on stadium development, transport systems, and urban planning, alongside increased interest from UK financial institutions in funding large-scale projects.
This strong relation was further highlighted during the recent visits of the UK ambassador to Morocco Alex Pinfield to many Moroccan cities, including Marrakech, Casablanca, Tahnier and Agadir.
During his visit to Agadir, Pinfield told Morocco World News (MWN) that “Morocco is a very valuable partner for us. It’s a partner that we have a really strong political relationship with,”
He added that “Morocco is a stable partnership for us, and that’s a valuable thing in a world where there is instability. I think there is a great value in having a partner where there is loyalty and there is stability that goes in both directions, between the UK and Morocco.”