Morocco’s growing importance as a strategic global hub for trade and investment across the continent of Africa was the focus for an ABCC event held in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Casablanca Finance City Authority.
The keynote speech was delivered by H E Mr Hakim Hajoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UK. The potential of Morocco as a gateway to Africa is growing more important as the economy continues its recovery after the pandemic and as Africa comes to be seen as an increasingly significant engine for global growth, the Ambassador stated.
Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, ABCC Deputy CEO & Secretary General, formally opened the event and introduced a short video about the Chamber and its services.
At this extremely well attended event, the Chamber was joined by Ms Lamia Merzouki and Ms Zineb Lahlou who are senior executives with the CFCA who shared their expertise with UK investors on the attractions of Morocco and Casablanca in particular. Their joint presentation provided a detailed description of all the services, incentives and benefits available from the CFC before the gathered audience of UK investors, executives, financiers and diplomats. The CFC offers an attractive package of incentives to companies seeking to set up operations in Casablanca and do business with any of the markets of Africa.
The briefing also introduced the numerous attractions that the CFC’s central city location offered in terms of access to sophisticated infrastructure, elegant lifestyle, property and its role as a vibrant trading hub. Companies seeking to pursue the multiple opportunities in the growing African markets and the potential for North-South trade and investment would be hard pushed to find a better option than CFC.
Expert opinion was also delivered by Mr Christophe Bachelet, Country Managing Partner, Morocco at DLA Piper, and Amin Hajji, of, Hajji & Associés, a leading Moroccan law firm which is based in Casablanca.
Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, ABCC Chairman, chaired the proceedings and the event was sponsored by Hajji & Associes, whose founder, Prof Amin Hajji, delivered a presentation via video link.
The seminar left delegates with a full understanding of what Casablanca Finance City was and its potential role in supporting their business activities in Morocco and the whole of Africa.
Recognized as the leading financial centre in Africa and a partner of the largest international financial centres, CFC has built a strong membership community of finance companies, regional headquarters of multinationals, service providers and holding companies.
CFC offers its members an attractive value proposition and quality “doing business” support to promote the deployment of their activities in Africa. Driven by the ambition to satisfy its community, CFC is committed to promoting the African expertise of its members while stimulating synergies and business opportunities within its network. CFC provides its members with the opportunity to have local support to facilitate their business on the continent. CFC also organizes regular events to introduce investment opportunities and one-on-one meetings.
The Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA) is the body responsible for steering and promoting the CFC. It is a limited company and public-private partnership that aims to position Casablanca as a regional financial hub in Africa. The CFCA was established in July 2010 following discussions between the Region of Casablanca-Settat, the Central Bank of Morocco, the country’s financial sector and the Casablanca Stock Exchange.