UK Seeks to Boost Cooperation with World-Cup Co-Host Morocco to Unlock Business Opportunities
Rabat – Morocco's 2030 World Cup co-hosting rights are contributing to the country's position as a leader at many levels, including business and trade.
The UK announced this week its interest in unlocking business opportunities through boosting ties and cooperation with Morocco, which was confirmed as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Portugal.
Earlier this week, UK Minister of State for Investment Baroness Gustafsson answered an MP's question on the country's steps to strengthen trade ties with Morocco, stressing that the Department for Business and Trade is 'committed to helping UK businesses export to Morocco.'
This effort comes in line with the UK-Morocco Association Agreement the two countries signed in 2019 post-Brexit.
'Bilateral trade was worth £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6 billion in current prices from 2023,' the minister stated, stressing the importance of Morocco as a co-host of the World Cup.
'An example of the opportunities for further UK-Morocco business partnerships comes with Morocco co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, where opportunities are emerging for British businesses,' she concluded.
In a recent interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance (UKEF) Tim Reid expressed his country's determination to seize the World Cup opportunity and the projects it brings to the country.
'In Morocco, we are focusing on World Cup-related projects as we are keen to be part of this exciting adventure,' he noted, outlining the agency's £5 billion commitment to Moroccan projects, positioning the kingdom as a strategic launching point for British commercial interests throughout Africa.
He stressed how UKEF is determined to contribute to Morocco's projects, whether infrastructure or energy plans.
'Whether you are a government official considering a new infrastructure project or a private company with ambition in energy efficiency, we can help. In return, we ask for a commitment to sourcing at least 20% of the contract value from the UK,' Reid told MWN.
In October 2024, a UK delegation visited Morocco to explore the country's World Cup preparatory campaign as well as to discuss ways to boost ties with the North African country at all levels.
The delegation included 12 British companies, interested in Morocco's projects related to the global tournament. Tags: UK and Moroccoworld cup 2030
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Maroc
7 hours ago
- Maroc
Morocco, UK Sign MoU in Support of 2030 FIFA World Cup Organization
Morocco and the United Kingdom signed, on Monday 02 June in Salé, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting the organization of the 2030 World Cup. Signed by the Moroccan Minister Delegate for the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, this agreement marks a new milestone in the dynamic bilateral cooperation in the fields of sports, infrastructure, and economic development. This initiative aligns with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has made sport a pillar of influence, openness, and sustainable development. Through this MoU, the United Kingdom expresses its commitment to mobilize its technical expertise, its business ecosystem, and its support capabilities to contribute to the success of this major project. Both parties agreed to work closely on a range of initiatives, particularly concerning stadiums, transport infrastructure, and services related to the management of international events. This mutual commitment reflects a shared ambition: to make the 2030 World Cup a sporting, logistical, and human success—one that fosters economic opportunities and sustainable partnerships, in line with universal values of solidarity, excellence, and inclusion. (MAP: 03 June 2025)
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Morocco World
UK Delegation Meets Morocco's FM Following Historic Backing of Autonomy Plan
Rabat – Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita hosted in Rabat today members of the British parliamentary delegation, with the visit coming on the heels of a significant shift in the UK's position on the Western Sahara dispute. The delegation, representing the UK group at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and led by Fabian Hamilton, held talks with Bourita following British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's visit to Morocco on Sunday. During his visit, the UK's top diplomat officially announced his government's support for Morocco's autonomy initiative as the only credible basis for resolving the dispute over Western Sahara. Today's meeting reflects growing diplomatic momentum between the two countries, coming shortly after Lammy stated that the UK now considers Morocco's autonomy proposal 'serious and credible' and a viable solution to the decades-long dispute. Yesterday, Hamilton talked extensively to Moroccan media about the significance of the UK's recent decision to support Morocco's Autonomy plan. He pointed out a growing consensus among the world's top powers: 'We now have three out of the five permanent members of the Security Council supporting the autonomy plan.' Read also: UK Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan Opens New Chapter, Says British MP The presence of the British parliamentary group in Rabat notes a strengthening of bilateral ties, not only at the executive level but also through inter-parliamentary cooperation. Discussions reportedly focused on reinforcing legislative dialogue between Moroccan and British lawmakers, in line with broader efforts to deepen political, economic, and security collaboration. Observers view the visit as part of a broader British diplomatic push to connect with key partners in North Africa, particularly as London seeks to recalibrate its foreign policy post-Brexit. The UK's endorsement of the Moroccan plan represents a diplomatic win for Rabat, which has long lobbied international actors to support its autonomy initiative as a final settlement to the Western Sahara dispute. The British delegation's visit also signals a continuation of the strategic dialogue between the two countries, which have expanded cooperation in sectors ranging from trade and investment to education and renewable energy. As diplomatic activity intensifies, Morocco's foreign ministry has signaled that it expects further engagements with UK officials in the coming months.
Ya Biladi
8 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Backing Morocco's Sahara plan, the UK embraces its «progressive realism» foreign strategy
The UK's recent recognition of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara marks a significant moment in British diplomacy. In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Lt Gen Sir Simon Mayall, a retired British Army officer and former Middle East adviser at the Ministry of Defence, called the move «particularly significant in the context of the new Strategic Defence Review». He highlighted it as an example of the UK «seizing the initiative on a diplomatic issue that has been neglected by the international community for nearly half a century». According to Mayall, the recognition is part of what Foreign Secretary David Lammy has described as a strategy of «progressive realism» — a foreign policy approach that seeks to combine pragmatic interests with progressive goals by strengthening ties with «trusted and reliable» partners. «The political tides in Africa are shifting once again», Mayall noted, «and the UK needs to be clear-sighted about who its friends are». Lammy introduced the concept of «progressive realism» in April 2024 as a guiding principle for UK foreign policy under the Labour government. It blends national interest with support for international institutions and free trade. Mayall also emphasized the economic dimension of the UK's support for Morocco, pointing to a £5 billion facility from UK Export Finance to back projects in the country. «Our support for Morocco and its ambitions in the region will unlock huge economic opportunities for British companies», he said. The UK's shift from a neutral stance to formally backing Morocco's autonomy plan was announced on Sunday. It was accompanied by a series of cooperation agreements across various sectors, including trade, health, education — and soon, defense.
