AGP Executive Report

Energy & Mining Investment: OCP Green Energy has switched on Morocco’s first large-scale 25 MW/125 MWh lithium iron phosphate battery storage system at Benguerir, aiming to cut peak-hour electricity costs by about 25% and help smooth solar power for industrial demand. Trade & Public Finance: Morocco’s customs revenue hit MAD 69.69 billion at end-August 2026 (+7.1%), with VAT on imports and energy-product taxes both rising. Agribusiness & Exports: Moroccan sweet pepper exports to the UK climbed 60% to 10,400 tons (Oct 2025–Jun 2026), topping £17m and signaling continued momentum. Infrastructure & Logistics: Work on the Driouch–Nador West Med highway link is over 95% complete, with a 27-km stretch designed to plug the port complex into the national motorway network. Industry & Competitiveness: Italy’s auto parts lobby is pushing the EU to tighten “European content” rules so components made in Morocco won’t qualify for preferential treatment. Business Expansion: Biobest will take full ownership of its Morocco biological control agents production entity near Agadir, pending competition authority approval. Regional Trade Links: Libya’s Export Development Authority launched a direct shipping line from Misrata Free Zone to Tangier, then onward to African markets including Nigeria and Cameroon. Food Security Risk: A new analysis flags that disruptions to energy and fertilizer supplies could feed into a global food crisis, with knock-on risks for stability in Africa and beyond.

Nador West Med Logistics: A 27-km highway link from Driouch to the Nador West Med port complex is now over 95% complete, with the road set to connect the port to Morocco’s motorway network and boost industrial export flows from the East. Trade Routes: Libya’s Export Development Authority announced a new direct shipping line from Misrata Free Zone via Tangier to African markets including Nigeria and Cameroon, aiming to cut costs and expand non-oil exports. EU Industrial Rules: Italy’s auto parts lobby is pushing Brussels to tighten EU “European content” rules so Moroccan-made components may not qualify for preferential treatment under the Industrial Accelerator Act. Pharma Market Pressure: Fitch Solutions (BMI) expects Morocco’s pharmaceutical trade deficit to widen to MAD 13.4bn by 2030 as imports keep outpacing exports, even as the market grows. Mining Investment: Aya Gold & Silver raised the after-tax value of its Boumadine project in Morocco to $3.5bn, extending mine life and increasing expected silver output. Business Expansion: Givaudan opened a Casablanca development center to expand fragrance R&D and serve Maghreb and West Africa. Mobility & Air Links: Ryanair plans new winter routes from Stockholm Arlanda to Rabat, while airline network updates also include new cargo and passenger links. Water & Climate Risk: Environmental groups urged faster water protection and adaptation after record heat and ocean warming intensified pressure on Morocco’s water, farming and food security. Charikaty Funding: Morocco’s legaltech Charikaty raised a pre-seed round at a €3m valuation and is expanding into accounting and compliance for Egypt and GCC.

Legal & Compliance Tech: Morocco’s Charikaty raised a €3m pre-seed at a €3m valuation and is expanding from online company formation into accounting, compliance, domiciliation, trademark filings and dissolution, with a diaspora channel for Moroccans abroad. Mobility Regulation: New Moroccan rules for electric scooters now set a 25 km/h cap, require helmets, restrict use outside built-up areas to where dedicated cycle lanes exist, and mandate lights and warning gear after a six-month grace period. Industrial Risk Watch: Allianz Trade says Morocco has no “high-risk” sector, but flags construction, transport, textiles, metals and energy as sensitive, while automotive and chemicals sit in medium risk. Green Industry & Trade Fairs: Ecomondo 2026 (3–6 Nov, Rimini) expands internationally with a Morocco-included roadshow and adds a textile supply-chain hall plus more focus on AI and circular economy. Chemicals & Fragrance: Givaudan opened a new Casablanca development hub for perfumery and application labs serving Maghreb and West Africa. Sahara Investment: Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra received 79% of state land allocated for investment projects, largely driven by renewables. Agri-Exports: Morocco became Uganda’s fourth-largest coffee export destination in July, taking 50,222 bags (mostly robusta). Business & Services: Morocco-based legaltech Charikaty expands; Education & Human Capital: OECS Embassy in Morocco recognized 14 graduates and highlighted Morocco’s scholarship program for Eastern Caribbean students.

Industrial Chemistry & Fragrance: Givaudan opened a new Casablanca development hub with application/perfumery labs and a commercial team for Maghreb and West Africa, boosting local R&D and market support. Urban Mobility Rules: Morocco’s new electric scooter regulations took effect, setting a 25 km/h cap, making helmet use mandatory, and restricting circulation outside built-up areas to where dedicated cyclist lanes exist, with technical lighting/safety requirements phased in after a grace period. Investment Land Allocation (Sahara): Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra received 79% of state land allocated for investment projects in H1 2025, with energy projects dominating land use and planned investment. Trade & Manufacturing Signals: Morocco’s merchandise trade deficit hit MAD 352bn in 2025 (21% of GDP), as imports of consumer and capital goods rose faster than exports. Energy/Industry Finance: Falcon Energy Materials advanced discussions to acquire a minority stake in a Chinese anode producer and raised up to C$30m to support its Morocco anode plant. Macroeconomic Outlook: Morocco forecasts 4.1% growth in 2027, with non-agricultural value added leading and agriculture recovering moderately.

Green Hydrogen & Decarbonization: RINA launched a Morocco subsidiary to support green hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, port logistics and industrial decarbonization, aligning with the country’s renewables push. Renewables Competitiveness: A new report says Morocco’s low solar costs and green-hydrogen investments are making it one of Africa’s most competitive renewable energy markets. Rail & Industrial Supply Chain: Morocco put five CRRC Ziyang diesel locomotives into service as it modernizes rail ahead of the 2030 World Cup, while Falcon Energy Materials advanced plans for a Morocco anode plant with a potential China stake acquisition. Ports & Logistics: Nador West Med’s West Med Container Terminal cleared live trials for commercial operations, boosting Mediterranean transshipment capacity. Food & Agriculture: Morocco’s corn imports from Argentina jumped 133% as heat and Ukraine disruptions reshaped grain flows. Marine Health Risk: A pilchard herpesvirus outbreak is expected to hit marine life, fishing and consumer prices. Politics & Social Spending: PAM’s Lekjaa unveiled a 350bn dirham 2026-2031 economic and social program focused on purchasing power, pensions and tax changes. Elections & Governance: An analysis argues Moroccan parties often select “notables” with networks and resources, not militants with programs, raising questions about representation. Energy Transition Oversight: A technical audit found Morocco’s green ammonia design can meet EU RFNBO standards but flagged gaps in metering, data and regulation.

Port & Logistics: Nador West Med’s West Med Container Terminal has cleared live operational trials, moving the eastern terminal closer to first commercial calls and boosting Mediterranean transshipment capacity. Agri-Trade: Morocco’s corn imports from Argentina jumped 133% in the first seven months of 2026 as Ukrainian grain disruptions and European heat push North African buyers to new suppliers. Green Hydrogen & Decarbonization: RINA launched a Morocco subsidiary to support green hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, port logistics and industrial decarbonization, while a technical audit of a Moroccan green ammonia project says it can meet EU RFNBO standards but flags gaps in metering, data and regulation. Industrial Safety: Fires hit Morocco’s industrial zones—one at TAC 1 in Fahs-Anjra was brought under control with limited damage, and another earlier in the week damaged three factories in the same area. Business & Innovation: Givaudan opened a Casablanca fragrance development hub to accelerate regional innovation for Maghreb, West Africa and South Asia. Food Supply Watch: Traders warn vegetable prices may rise as Moroccan supplies tighten. Wildfire Risk: ANEF put six provinces on red alert for extreme wildfire risk through Sept. 15. Sports & Politics: Morocco’s PM Akhannouch rebuked federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa over claims about hosting the 2030 World Cup final, as FIFA says the venue decision is still pending.

Industrial Fire Response: A fire at Morocco’s TAC 1 industrial zone in Jouamaa (Fahs-Anjra) was brought under control, with strong winds complicating efforts; workers were evacuated and authorities reported no casualties, while damage to neighboring units was limited. Industrial Risk Alerts: Morocco’s water and forest agency (ANEF) placed six provinces on red alert for extreme wildfire risk (Sept. 11–15), including Fahs-Anjra and Tangier-Assilah, urging strict caution near forests and during high-risk conditions. Agri & Trade Logistics: WEC Lines plans an enhanced weekly container service linking Nador to Portugal’s Setúbal and onward to Northern Europe, offering refrigerated capacity for perishable and frozen goods as Nador West Med prepares to ramp up later in 2026. Business Expansion: Givaudan opened a new fragrance development hub in Casablanca to serve Maghreb, West Africa and South Asia, aiming to speed up innovation across multiple care and fragrance segments. Startup Funding: Charikaty, a Moroccan LegalTech firm, expanded regionally after closing a pre-seed round valuing it at €3m, moving from online company incorporation toward a full business services ecosystem. Energy & Climate Context: A report highlights Morocco’s broader region-facing climate and energy pressures, including extreme weather patterns and the Mediterranean’s fast-growing solar and wind pipeline.

AI in Mining: China unveiled AI-OreSeeking and AI-GeoMapping systems to speed mineral exploration and geological mapping, cutting prediction/evaluation from months to about a week. Morocco World Cup Infrastructure: FRMF chief Fouzi Lekjaa said the 2030 final will be at the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane near Casablanca, as FIFA has not yet made an official call and Spain keeps pushing its case. Digital Transformation: Siemens and Redington will expand Siemens Xcelerator industrial software across Morocco and other African markets, aiming to boost design, simulation and digital twin adoption. Health & Lifestyle: A Kenitra study found physical activity is linked to better blood pressure control among treated hypertension patients. Cybersecurity: New research on Android banking malware highlights how attackers use Work Profile-style isolation to evade fraud checks, with implications for African financial services. Port & Logistics: Nador West Med’s East Terminal reportedly passed tests and is ready for first commercial calls. Industry & Jobs: Morocco registered 51,805 new businesses in H1 2026, led by Casablanca-Settat.

Digital Industry Partnerships: Siemens Digital Industries Software is teaming up with Redington to roll out its Xcelerator industrial software suite (Teamcenter, Designcenter, Simcenter plus digital twin and Industrial AI) across Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco and Tanzania. Port & Logistics: Nador West Med’s East Terminal has passed operational trials and is now cleared for first commercial container calls, positioning the hub for larger Mediterranean transshipment traffic. Industrial Investment: Chinese wire-and-cable maker Wuxi Xin Hongye will invest $34m in a Tangier automotive cable plant with France’s Acome, creating a Morocco Acome Xinhongye JV to serve EV, solar and battery-linked supply chains. Consumer & Manufacturing R&D: Givaudan opened a Casablanca fragrance development hub with labs and a regional commercial team to support product development for fabric, home, personal care and fine fragrance. Housing & Industry Zones: Morocco’s Government Council approved updates to housing aid procedures and decrees for new/modified industrial acceleration zones (Jorf and Bouknadel 2). Agriculture & Food Prices: Traders warn vegetable prices may rise as Moroccan supplies tighten, with heat and seasonal gaps affecting tomatoes and potatoes. World Cup Politics: FIFA again denied any promise that Morocco will host the 2030 final at the Hassan II Stadium, despite Moroccan football officials’ claims.

Rail Security Upgrade: ONCF is launching a tender to design by 2030 a national video-surveillance and AI master plan, aiming for about 6,000 cameras and a unified network across stations and rolling stock. World Cup Infrastructure: FRMF chief Fouzi Lekjaa says Benslimane’s Hassan II Stadium will host the 2030 World Cup final, even as FIFA hasn’t officially confirmed the venue. Heat-Resilience Works: Morocco is rolling out a new strategy to fight extreme heat in major cities, including pavement redesigns that target urban overheating at street level. Digital & Defense Cooperation: Morocco and India launched an inaugural Joint Defense Committee in New Delhi, with talks covering training, cyber defense, medical cooperation, and potential co-production. Triangular Development: AMCI and Belgium’s Enabel signed an MoU to expand triangular cooperation in Africa, focusing on entrepreneurship, employability, and logistics corridors. EV Imports Watch: A report says Chinese electric two- and three-wheelers are surging across Africa, with Morocco leading North Africa’s imports. Telecom/Outsourcing Deal: Saham (Moulay Hafid Elalamy) raised its Teleperformance stake to about 12.5% via a €355m derivatives settlement, as Morocco’s competition review continues around Majorel Africa. Agrifood Supply Chain: Argentina’s corn exports to North Africa are rising fast, with Morocco among the biggest buyers—important for feed and livestock costs. Business Climate: A study tour highlights Morocco’s role in agriculture and natural-resource leadership exchanges.

Fertilizer Supply: Morocco-linked procurement news hits agriculture: the government approved imports of 110,000 tonnes of fertilizers (MoP, DAP and urea), with DAP sourced from Morocco under a government-to-government deal. Synthetic Fuels Push: Swiss Synhelion signed an MoU with Morocco for a $1bn, 100,000-ton-per-year renewable synthetic fuel plant in Tan-Tan, aiming at aviation, road and marine fuels. Pharma Expansion: Sothema is accelerating pan-African growth, reporting record first-half results and moving toward a more vertically integrated model via acquisitions and a dedicated international arm. Conservation Agriculture: INRA met Australian partners to prepare a conservation agriculture and soil-health project aligned with Morocco’s Génération Green strategy. Defense & Industrial Links: Morocco’s defense ties keep widening: a Morocco-India Joint Defense Committee meeting in New Delhi covered training, cyber defense and defense industry co-production. Energy Security: Govt approved 18 LNG cargoes from TotalEnergies over nine months to cover urgent needs. Transport Costs: Morocco’s taxi union protested a reported 40% cut in transport support, citing fuel-price pressure and payment delays. Trade & Craft Exports: Maison de l’Artisan debuted at Bijorhca Paris to promote Moroccan jewelry craftsmanship and open international outlets. Geopolitics With Market Impact: King Mohammed VI condemned Iran’s missile attacks on Jordan as oil prices climbed toward $100/bbl on supply fears.

Synthetic Fuels Push: Morocco is moving ahead with a new synthetic fuel push in Tan-Tan, targeting about 100,000 tons per year and roughly $1bn in investment, aiming to turn renewable power into an industrial value chain for hydrogen derivatives and low-emission fuels. Mining & Metals: Aya Gold & Silver updated the Boumadine project economics in Morocco, with its after-tax NPV5% rising to $3.5bn and IRR to 93% after extending mine life to 14 years. Energy Manufacturing: A new Ember report says Africa’s solar panel manufacturing capacity could quadruple this year, with Morocco expected to add around 1 GW across the region as more plants come online. Port & Logistics: EU carbon rules are squeezing Spain’s biggest container port, while a Moroccan rival terminal (Nador West Med) is positioned to open with a fresh competitive edge. Trade & Food Supply: Morocco is among the key drivers of rising imports of Argentine corn, with shipments to North Africa up sharply as buyers seek alternatives amid supply disruptions. Industry Events: MEADFA opened the programme for its 25th anniversary travel retail conference in Rabat (15–17 Nov), highlighting regional air traffic growth and retail opportunities.

AI Industrial Push: Morocco moves from strategy to implementation with “Morocco AI 2030,” targeting MAD 100bn in GDP value by 2030, 50,000 jobs, and training/certifying 200,000 AI talents via JAZARI Institutes and a sovereign AI marketplace. Energy & Industry Investment: Swiss Synhelion signs an MoU to build a 100,000-ton renewable synthetic fuel plant in Tan-Tan, feeding Morocco’s green hydrogen push. Synthetic Fuels Pipeline: Synhelion’s project is positioned to create new value chains and local jobs, with government backing for integrated supply chains. Trade & Logistics: Morocco and Guinea sign 25 cooperation agreements spanning economy, finance, air transport, customs, agriculture, energy, ports, and vocational training. Defense Cooperation: India and Morocco hold their first Joint Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi, covering training, peacekeeping, cyber defence, and defence industries. Agribusiness Exports: Moroccan blueberries hit a record 657 tons shipped to Finland in 2025/26, driven by quality and logistics. Politics & Jobs: Ahead of Sept. 23 elections, parties focus on purchasing power, youth employment, healthcare, and social protection, while the Left Alliance links Ceuta migration attempts to youth disillusionment.

Africa50 Infrastructure Push: Morocco-based Africa50 says it wants to more than double the value of its co-invested infrastructure projects to at least $20bn over the next five years, targeting power generation and transmission plus transport and logistics. Fuel Cost Watch: Morocco diesel prices could climb above MAD 18 per liter if international gasoil keeps rising, with Middle East tensions cited as the main volatility driver. Dealmaking in Consumer Goods: Mutandis plans to buy a majority stake in household hygiene firm Enosis in a deal valuing Enosis at 1.7bn dirhams, aiming to build a stronger local player for import substitution and exports. Tourism Seasonality Pressure: Saïdia’s performance is held back by all-inclusive packaging, limited air access and the long Algerian border closure, with calls to extend the operating season for steadier returns. Industrial AI Reality Check: A report warns most industrial AI pilots fail to scale, blaming factory data and system fragmentation more than algorithms—an issue Morocco’s manufacturers are likely to face. Energy & Trade Signals: Morocco is projected to add about 1GW of solar capacity in 2026 (per Ember), while Morocco’s trade dynamics remain in focus as regional partners and supply chains shift.

Youth Sports & Brand Morocco: China’s U17 women’s coach Ma Xiaoxu says her team will play with confidence and creativity at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, with China in Group E alongside the US, Samoa and Kenya. Film & Animation Industry: Morocco joined France–Korea’s Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and became a founding member of the Lumière Alliance, signaling a push to strengthen audiovisual and animation cooperation. Trade & Manufacturing: Morocco’s trade with Spain flipped in 2025, with Rabat exporting $19.61bn to Spain versus $16.51bn imports, led by electronics, non-knit apparel, vehicles and seafood—an indicator of Morocco’s growing industrial clout. Mobility & Investment: Tata’s €3.82bn Iveco takeover could reshape African commercial-vehicle distribution, with overlapping networks spanning Morocco among other markets. Agri-Tech Skills: UM6P-backed Digital Farming School opened applications for its first cohort in Côte d’Ivoire, training 50 agritech developers with drones, sensors and decision-support tools. Energy & Infrastructure: OWC-led consortium has been appointed by the EIB to run a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira, including ports, logistics and grid integration work. Business Formation: Morocco registered 51,805 new companies in H1 2026, led by Casablanca-Settat and dominated by SARL AU structures, with trade the top sector. Industrial AI Reality Check: A new report warns most industrial AI pilots fail to scale, citing factory data and decision silos—an execution challenge for Morocco’s Industry 4.0 push.

Food Safety & Fisheries: Scientists say no pilchard herpesvirus case is officially confirmed in Morocco, but sardine die-offs since August in South Africa have revived concern; Moroccan industry leaders are urging tighter monitoring and faster reporting to protect the Safi-to-canning-to-exports chain. World Cup 2030 Investment Push: Morocco plans nearly $20bn (about 200bn dirhams) in public-private spending to upgrade transport, hospitality and urban facilities, including stadium renovations and a Hassan II Grand Stadium, plus high-speed rail expansion. Water Security: ONEE is studying a third Laayoune seawater desalination unit that could lift capacity from 600 to about 900 liters/second, targeting growing demand in Laayoune and nearby centers. Industrial Tech Execution: A new report warns most industrial AI pilots never scale; for Morocco’s manufacturers, the bottleneck is less software and more fragmented factory systems and skills needed to move from experiments to real production. Aerospace & Defense Procurement: Morocco’s U.S. advanced aerospace imports topped $1bn in Jan–Jul 2026 (+35%), alongside a CAE contract for F-16 training simulators at Sidi Slimane. Travel Retail Industry: MEADFA unveiled its 25th-anniversary 2026 conference programme in Rabat (Nov 15–17), spotlighting air traffic and Africa’s travel retail growth. Regional Business Links: A Mauritanian employers delegation is heading to Casablanca for the Mauritanian-Moroccan Economic Forum, with sessions on investment and sectors like energy, agriculture and food.