German companies accelerate investments in Morocco across logistics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and digital technology sectors
via Le Matin4 min read
German companies are increasing their investments in Morocco, with several major groups detailing significant expansion projects. Dachser is planning a strategic logistics site in Tanger Automotive City, covering 75,000 m², with operations expected by late 2027. This facility, including a 20,000 m² warehouse with customs areas, aims to provide Moroccan businesses with logistics connectivity to Europe comparable to the single market. The project also incorporates environmental features such as certified buildings, solar panels, and wastewater recycling. This builds on their Marrakech site, opened in 2025, which supports Moroccan SMEs in export. In the pharmaceutical sector, Bayer is investing 200 million dirhams between 2026 and 2028 to expand its Nouaceur site. This investment will add three new production lines, increasing the number of locally produced formulas to 40. The goal is to establish the Moroccan site as a key supplier of family health products for the EMEA region and the European market, manufacturing products like Aspirin, Rennie, and dietary supplements. Employment at the site is projected to grow from 110 to 170 employees by 2028, with an estimated 50% increase in indirect jobs. Bayer also aims to triple its international sales, currently reaching 45 countries. Leoni, already a significant player in Morocco's automotive ecosystem, is advancing several industrial projects. These include a new production site in Bouskoura, the completion of a 230 million dirham f
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.
Meryem Belhoussine's research, based on testimonies from over 80 former Moroccan female parliamentarians, highlights the persistent exclusion of women from political governance. She identifies financial and sociocultural obstacles, such as limited resources for campaigns and gender stereotypes within parties, as well as "invisible resistances" like psychological violence and unfulfilled promises. Many women wait 30 to 35 years in activism before reaching parliament, revealing systemic dysfunctions. While quotas have significantly increased women's presence in parliament, they haven't transformed party operations, which remain opaque and influenced by informal networks. Quotas have often led to women being elected through reserved lists rather than competitive local constituencies, and are sometimes seen as political rent rather than merit-based promotion. Belhoussine notes that Moroccan political parties, despite constitutional reforms and legal requirements for female representation in leadership, often only partially adhere to these obligations without developing genuine strategies for promoting female leadership. She argues that the main challenge is no longer just getting women into institutions, but ensuring they have equal conditions, career prospects, and evaluation criteria as men. For the upcoming September 23, 2026 legislative elections, Belhoussine emphasizes that parties must invest in women in truly competitive constituencies. She advocates for democratizing the
Must ReadThe 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements across strategic sectors. These agreements demonstrate the commitment of both nations to deepen their strategic partnership through structured projects. The meeting, held in Rabat, signifies a new phase in the cooperation between Morocco and France.