Morocco-Kazakhstan: CGEM Launches a Business Council to Boost Economic Exchanges
The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) hosted the inaugural meeting of the Morocco-Kazakhstan Business Council, an initiative aimed at strengthening economic ties and encouraging investment between the two nations.
Held in Casablanca, the meeting brought together CGEM President Mehdi Tazi, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov, and a substantial delegation comprising institutional leaders and business executives from both Morocco and Kazakhstan.
A Permanent Framework for Developing Partnerships
At the beginning of the proceedings, Mehdi Tazi emphasized that the establishment of this Business Council signifies much more than a mere mechanism for cooperation. He stated that this platform serves as a permanent dialogue space designed to bring the business communities of both countries closer together and to foster lasting partnerships.
The CGEM President noted that trade between Morocco and Kazakhstan has surged by 68% since 2021, now exceeding $460 million. Despite this positive development, he believes that there remain significant untapped opportunities for cooperation.
Strategic Sectors at the Heart of Cooperation
Discussions highlighted the numerous complementarities between the Moroccan and Kazakh economies. Both parties are keen to develop joint projects across several strategic sectors, including fertilizers, agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, energy, digital technology, and artificial intelligence.
Mehdi Tazi also highlighted Morocco’s strategic position as a gateway to African and European markets, while Kazakhstan acts as a prime access point to Central Asia. He called for the establishment of a genuine economic corridor connecting these various regions.
Kazakhstan Aims for a Strengthened Partnership with Morocco
For his part, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening its economic relations with the Kingdom. He expressed that the launch of the Business Council would help stimulate investments, promote industrial partnerships, and enhance trade exchanges between businesses in both countries.
The priorities of this new platform were subsequently presented by Driss Benomar, President of the Moroccan side of the Business Council, and Murat Karimssakov, President of the Kazakh side and head of the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan.
B2B Meetings to Uncover New Projects
This inaugural session was also marked by several presentations from Moroccan and Kazakh enterprises and institutions. The discussions focused on high-potential sectors such as information technology, finance, agri-food, port infrastructure, telecommunications, and investment.
B2B meetings then enabled economic operators to explore concrete avenues for cooperation and identify new business opportunities.
CGEM Strengthens Its Outreach to Central Asia
Through the establishment of this Business Council, CGEM reaffirms its strategy of diversifying international economic partnerships. The organization aims to enhance the presence of Moroccan companies in Central Asian markets while fostering value-creating, job-generating projects and sustainable investments between Morocco and Kazakhstan.
