Marrakech – The Embassy of India in Rabat celebrated ITEC Day on Tuesday, marking ten years of partnership and cooperation under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.
The event brought together Moroccan professionals who have benefited from India-funded training initiatives, highlighting the program’s role in strengthening capacity building and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
ITEC Day serves as an annual platform to reconnect with alumni of the programme and to showcase its long-term impact on public institutions and professional development.
The initiative, fully funded by the Government of India, enables professionals from partner countries to attend specialized training courses at leading Indian institutions across a wide range of sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Rana, Ambassador of India to Morocco, opened the celebration by acknowledging the multicultural spirit of the event.
“Namaskar, bonjour, marhaba. Today we are celebrating ITEC day,” he said, noting that it is a moment dedicated to engaging with “the Moroccan alumni of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme.”
He explained that ITEC is “a program designed for training professionals of the government sector as well as agencies,” allowing participants to travel to India and take part in courses “related to their fields,” conducted at “top Indian institutions.”
Emphasizing the inclusive nature of the initiative, he added, “All these courses are provided for by the government of India,” with the objective of “upgrading the skills and building capacities in the government sector.”
The Ambassador highlighted the diversity of training areas covered by the program, including “finance, accounting, digital public infrastructure, information technology, cyber security,” noting that “some of the best programmes have a very good participation from all over the world including Morocco.”
He highlighted the ripple effect of the initiative, explaining that when alumni return home, “they share their experiences and also motivate other Moroccan professionals to participate in these courses.”
According to Shri Rana, ITEC alumni play a central role in bilateral relations. “The alumni of ITEC are the foundation of bilateral relations between our countries,” he said, adding that exposure to India allows participants to better understand “Indian society” and “our hospitality,” creating “a close connection that develops between our alumni and India.”
Reflecting on a decade of cooperation, he noted that “over the years the Moroccan alumni of ITEC, which now numbers around 900 people over the last 10 years, are a great support for us in working here in the Kingdom of Morocco.”
Morocco-India
Beyond training and education, India–Morocco relations continue to deepen through strong economic and trade ties, supported by expanding commercial exchange and investment.
According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), in March 2025 India exported roughly $101 million (MAD 930 million) worth of goods to Morocco, while imports from Morocco were about $46 million (MAD 420 million), resulting in a positive trade balance of around $55.3 million (MAD 510 million) for India.
Between March 2024 and March 2025, Indian exports to Morocco rose by approximately $8.15 million (MAD 75 million), an increase of about 8.75%, while imports declined by around $57.8 million (MAD 530 million), or 55.7%, reflecting shifting trade dynamics.
India’s principal exports to Morocco include drug formulations, motor vehicles, cars, and biological products.
Morocco remains a significant supplier to the Indian market as well. In 2020, Moroccan exports to India reached $1.39 billion (MAD 12.8 billion), led by phosphoric acid and mixed mineral or chemical fertilizers.
Over the past 25 years, Moroccan exports to India have grown at an annual rate of about 6.25%, increasing from $306 million in 1995.
Indian exports to Morocco have shown even stronger long-term growth, rising at an annual rate of about 11.8%, from $38.9 million in 1995 to $623 million (MAD 5.7 billion) in 2020.
Key export categories have included refined petroleum, packaged medicines, and cars.
Investment ties are also expanding. India’s private sector increasingly views Morocco as an attractive destination, and the number of Indian companies operating in the country has grown from roughly 12 to 40.
These businesses operate across several sectors, including automotive, information technology, green technologies, and hospitality, reflecting growing confidence in Morocco’s economic landscape.