Casablanca – Morocco is strengthening its economic footprint across Africa by channeling a growing share of its foreign investments into strategic sectors that address some of the continent’s most pressing development challenges, notably food security, access to energy, and infrastructure. This direction reflects a broader policy approach that considers Africa not as a peripheral market, but as a central partner in long-term growth and shared development.

Speaking before the House of Councillors in Rabat, Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui outlined the scope and rationale behind Morocco’s engagement with African economies. She stressed that despite Africa’s vast natural resources and strong demographic potential, the continent continues to face deep structural constraints. One of the most significant is a financing gap estimated at $402 billion in infrastructure and essential social services, a shortfall that continues to hinder economic integration and social development.

According to the minister, Morocco’s approach is based on a long-term strategic vision that places Africa at the core of global economic dynamics. This approach prioritizes balanced partnerships, productive investment, and sustained cooperation, with an emphasis on mutual benefit rather than short-term commercial returns.

Strategic initiatives to enhance connectivity and integration

As part of this framework, Morocco has launched several large-scale initiatives designed to strengthen regional integration and reduce structural barriers to growth. One of the most prominent is the Atlantic Initiative, which aims to reduce economic and logistical isolation for 23 African countries, particularly those with limited access to global trade routes. The initiative seeks to enhance connectivity through infrastructure, logistics, and energy projects that can support regional value chains.

A flagship element of Morocco’s African strategy is the Morocco–Nigeria gas pipeline, a major transcontinental energy project intended to reinforce regional energy security. Extending over approximately 6,000 kilometers, the pipeline represents an estimated investment of $25 billion. Once operational, it is expected to transport between 15 and 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, contributing to electricity generation and industrial development across several West African countries.

The project is also positioned as a social and developmental lever, with projections indicating that it could improve access to electricity for up to 600 million people across the continent, many of whom currently lack reliable power. Beyond energy supply, the pipeline is expected to stimulate local economies along its route by creating jobs and supporting industrial activity.

Growing Moroccan investments across the continent

Morocco’s financial commitment to Africa is reflected in its outward investment flows. In 2024, Moroccan investments abroad reached an estimated $515 million, with Africa accounting for roughly 20% of the total. These investments are concentrated in sectors considered essential for sustainable development, particularly agriculture, food security, finance, infrastructure, ports, and telecommunications.

Agriculture has emerged as a cornerstone of Morocco’s engagement strategy, driven by the recognition that food security remains a major vulnerability for many African economies. Through the OCP Group, Morocco has played a central role in supporting agricultural development across the continent. OCP initiatives have contributed to the training and support of more than 4 million African farmers, focusing on improving soil management, fertilizer use, and crop productivity.

This effort has coincided with a marked increase in fertilizer availability in Africa, rising from 0.3 tons in 2013 to 2.3 tons in 2024. The expansion has helped improve agricultural yields in several countries, reinforcing food security and reducing dependence on external inputs.

Expanding financial and infrastructure presence

In parallel with agricultural investments, Moroccan financial institutions have significantly expanded their presence across Africa, particularly in West Africa. Moroccan banks now generate between 15% and 40% of their overall results from their African operations, underscoring the growing integration of financial markets and the role of Moroccan institutions in supporting local economies through credit, trade finance, and investment services.

Beyond finance, Morocco has also increased its involvement in ports, telecommunications, and large-scale infrastructure, sectors that are critical for enhancing competitiveness and facilitating trade. These investments aim to support economic diversification and improve access to services, while reinforcing Morocco’s position as a key economic partner on the continent.

A long-term partnership model

Taken together, these initiatives reflect a coherent strategy centered on long-term development rather than transactional engagement. By focusing on food security, energy access, financial inclusion, and infrastructure, Morocco is positioning itself as a development-oriented partner at a time when Africa’s financing and investment needs remain substantial.

As global economic conditions become more uncertain, Morocco’s sustained commitment to Africa highlights an alternative cooperation model based on shared growth, regional integration, and strategic investment—one that seeks to address immediate development gaps while laying the groundwork for durable economic partnerships across the continent.