Morocco is now positioning itself as a regional hub linking Europe, Africa and the Arab world after years of steady economic growth and major projects, according to a report by the Choiseul Institute.
The report looks at how Morocco’s history, infrastructure push, trade strategy and security partnerships are shaping this ambition, and the hurdles that remain.
Morocco’s strategic location has always shaped its role. Sitting between Europe, West Africa and the Arab region, it has been a crossroads for centuries, from Phoenician ports like Lixus and Mogador to Roman trading routes connecting Volubilis and Banasa.
Morocco’s historical “crossroads identity” is now the foundation of its modern geoeconomic agenda.
One of the biggest engines of that agenda is infrastructure including Morocco’s high-speed rail line between Tangier and Casablanca, launched in 2019, which has seen ridership jump from 3 million passengers in its first year to 5.5 million in 2024.
The government is extending the line to Marrakech and expanding airport links across major cities. Air travel is also crucial. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor says 70% of visitors arrive by plane.
To meet growing demand before the 2030 World Cup, Aéroports du Maroc signed a MAD 38-billion investment deal to boost airport capacity from 34 million to 80 million passengers per year. Its head, Adel El Fakir, says the goal is to make Morocco a top African leader in aviation and connectivity.
Economically, Morocco is pushing a broad trade diversification strategy. It maintains strong ties with the EU, especially Spain and France, but has also built deep relations with the U.S., Arab countries and India, which signed more than 40 agreements with Morocco in the last decade and is now the biggest buyer of Moroccan phosphate.
Trade with China reached almost $8 billion in 2023, giving Chinese companies a gateway to Europe through Morocco’s free-trade network.
Foreign investment remains a major driver. In 2023, Morocco’s stock of FDI reached MAD 685.5 billion, about half the national GDP, with France, the UAE and Spain leading the way. These investments mainly go into services, manufacturing and construction.
But the report also warns about vulnerabilities. Morocco still depends heavily on imported oil and wheat, and on phosphate exports, making it sensitive to global price swings.
Casablanca-Settat is the country’s economic engine, generating 31% of national GDP and housing Casablanca Finance City, ranked Africa’s top financial hub since 2016. In 2025, the Casablanca Stock Exchange hit a record MAD 1 trillion in market capitalization, with the MASI index rising 30% in the first half of the year.
But economic progress remains uneven. The report warns that investment and jobs are highly concentrated in a few regions. Rural areas face deep social inequality: nearly 70% of rural workers have no diploma, only 4% went to university, and three-quarters work without contracts.
Young rural women are particularly vulnerable, with 37% classified as NEETs (not in work, school or training). Only 5% of Moroccan companies are led by women which is below regional and OECD averages.
On the diplomatic and security front, the report says Morocco has positioned itself as a stable actor in a turbulent region. Its security services are widely recognized for counterterrorism work, and the country is deepening partnerships not just with Europe and the U.S., but also across Africa.
Moroccan intelligence has assisted operations from Nigeria to the Sahel, while Rabat trains officers from several African countries.
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