Development in Africa has become a key strategic focus for Moroccan companies, according to the 4th International Development Barometer (BDI) conducted in 2020 by the consulting company BearingPoint.

Almost all Moroccan business professionals who took part in the survey consider that development on the continent is among the top 5 strategic priorities, compared to 78% in 2015. “Development in Africa is now among the top 3 strategic priorities for more than 80% of respondents. For more than a third of companies, it is even the main priority, i.e. a tripling of this response in 5 years”, this 4th barometer also highlights. Once perceived as a medium-term development axis, this development is now seen as a real growth driver and a means of testing new models (for ¼ of respondents), underlines the same source. Africa is the top beneficiary of Moroccan direct investments, capturing more than 60% of these investments in 2017. Furthermore, the said survey reveals that Morocco is now among the top African investors in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). This strengthened presence on the African continent is supported by a national strategy for the promotion of South-South cooperation, the study said. Although primarily targeting West Africa, the presence of Moroccan companies on the continent seems to have diversified more in recent years. They also explore East Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa. A strengthened presence thanks to the Kingdom's reintegration into the pan-African organization in 2017 and the commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to make Africa a national priority

The destination of Moroccan investments in Africa confirms this gradual expansion on the rest of the African continent. These flows are mainly addressed to West African countries (with an average share of 55%), followed by North Africa (25%), Central Africa (15%) and Southern Africa (5%)

Produced by the consulting company BearingPoint, in partnership with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the 4th Morocco International Development Barometer (BDI) aims to analyze the development strategies of Moroccan companies.