The UK has strengthened its partnership with Morocco advancing
our relationship worth over £4 billion annually and unlocking
opportunities for UK businesses during Foreign Secretary visit to
Morocco, ahead of 2030 World Cup.
As part of the Government's drive to boost economic growth, the
UK and Morocco have announced a series of agreements to deepen
collaboration and build business ties between both countries
delivering its Plan for Change to boost growth, create jobs and
put more money in people's pockets.
The Foreign Secretary has signed a series of partnerships
unlocking opportunities for UK businesses in projects across the
country, where public procurement opportunities are estimated at
around £33bn over the next three years. This includes the
possibility of infrastructure firms supporting World Cup host
cities such Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat.
This will put British businesses at the front of the queue to
secure contracts to build Moroccan infrastructure for the 2030
World Cup – injecting money into the construction sector. Since
the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, UK expertise and industry has
been involved in every major global sporting tournament. Today's
deal places British businesses in an advantageous position to
support the 2030 World Cup, continuing Britain's strong legacy of
delivering sporting infrastructure and enduring impact.
Other announcements include closer UK-Morocco cooperation on
migration, counterterrorism, and joint action to tackle water
scarcity and climate change, delivering greater security and
green growth opportunities for both countries.
A cooperation agreement on water and ports
infrastructure, worth up to £200m, will promote UK expertise
in sustainable water management, smart logistics, and green port
technologies. An agreement on procurement will create a unique
foundation for UK companies to access public tenders in Morocco,
with national treatment exemptions ensuring a level playing field
for UK innovation and expertise.
The Foreign Secretary, said:
Africa has one of the greatest growth potentials of any continent
- this young, dynamic population makes the continent an engine
room for growth.
Growth and prosperity will underpin our relationship Morocco and
beyond, helping forge new opportunities at home and abroad.
That is why I am visiting the country, to foster new business
relationships between the UK and Morocco, and deliver on our
commitment to strengthen our economy. These announcements mean UK
businesses will be able to score big in the delivery of the 2030
World Cup.
The UK has chosen to endorse autonomy within the Moroccan state
as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a
mutually-agreed and lasting solution to the Western Sahara
dispute, one that can deliver on our commitments to conflict
resolution in the region and self-determination for the people of
Western Sahara.
Minister for Trade Policy, said:
Morocco is becoming an increasingly important trade and
investment partner for the UK.
Growth is this government's top priority and stronger ties
with economies like Morocco will pave the way for new
opportunities, supporting British businesses and creating jobs.
UK companies are already securing major commercial wins in
Morocco, playing a vital role in delivering critical
infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup.
As part of the visit, the Government has announced that it will
adopt a new UK policy position towards Western Sahara. The
conflict, ongoing for almost 50 years, has undermined
stability and stifled prosperity in the region particularly for
the Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps.
As a member of the UN Security Council, and as a friend to
countries across the region, the UK's new position seeks to
support a mutually-agreed solution to the conflict that supports
the UN-led process and respects the principle of
self-determination. Approaching the 50-year anniversary of the
conflict, it is vital that we leverage this window of opportunity
to secure a lasting solution to the dispute, and one that
delivers a better future for the people of the Western Saharah.
The Foreign Secretary's visit to Morocco is part of the
Government's agenda to reboot cooperation with countries across
the continent, underpinned by the UK's Progressive Realist
approach to Foreign Affairs. Across Africa, this means building
genuine partnerships that are rooted in mutual respect across
trade and investment, security, and tackling the drivers of
irregular migration.
The visit will be used to announce a new deal for the UK
healthcare sector to supply equipment to hospitals and medical
centres across the country. The deal represents a boost to the UK
exports of medical and life sciences equipment, with Morocco due
to spend up to £2.8 billion pounds to transform their health care
system.
The Foreign Secretary is attending the Ibrahim Governance
Weekend (IGW) in Marrakech where he will meet with counterparts
and leaders from across the African continent to discuss shared
challenges including security, defence and the climate crisis.
