
UK Reaffirms Commitment to Deepen Partnership with Morocco
The statement was delivered by Ben Coleman, the United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to Morocco and West Africa, during the 8th "Morocco Capital Markets Days" conference, held in the City of London—the country's financial district.
Coleman welcomed the convening of this event, emphasizing its role in reinforcing the financial ties between the British and Moroccan financial markets.
This conference comes at a time when vast opportunities are being offered for developing economic and trade relations between the UK and Morocco, two countries bound by a relationship that dates back more than 8 centuries.
"As Trade Envoy, I am determined to play a role in helping strengthen investments and ensuring that Morocco and the UK are able to seize the opportunities on offer," Coleman said before an audience of diplomats, government officials, and financial professionals.
The official emphasized what he described as the special importance the British government attaches to relations with Morocco, aiming to build on the longstanding ties between the two kingdoms to elevate their partnership.
The two countries signed their first trade agreement in 1721, over three centuries ago, Coleman recalled, noting that since then, trade between Morocco and the UK has continued to grow.
For the UK official, the positive development of economic and trade exchanges between the two countries is a sign of trust and a reflection of shared ambition. He expressed confidence that both nations have all the potential to move forward.
"Our economies are highly complementary,' he noted. "Morocco Capital Markets Days" will explore ways to financially support the development of economic relations between the two countries, he added.
Coleman also praised Morocco's notable strides in infrastructure development, citing the expansion of the high-speed rail line (LGV) as a key example of transformative projects positioning the Kingdom for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
These projects testify to Morocco's vision and determination, said the British official, expressing the United Kingdom's willingness to take part in the wave of progress the Kingdom is experiencing.
The British Prime Minister's Trade Envoy emphasized the importance of the partnership with Morocco in West Africa and beyond. "Morocco is a tremendous gateway to Africa."
He also underlined the crucial role the business community has to play in bringing to life a Moroccan-British partnership that matches the aspirations and potential of both countries.
The 8th edition of the Morocco Capital Markets Days will continue until Friday in the British capital. More than 34 Moroccan listed companies and a wide range of capital market players engage with key stakeholders in the City and forge partnerships.
This year's edition is part of the Morocco Business Weeks, held in London from April 28 to May 9, with the aim of highlighting Morocco's economic potential and strengthening cooperation with the United Kingdom.
Through this event, the Casablanca Stock Exchange reaffirms its commitment to connecting the Moroccan capital market with major international financial centers and enhancing Morocco's appeal to foreign investors.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Ya Biladi
12 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Meknes newborn finally registered under the name Massinissa after initial refusal
In Meknes, a family's choice to name their newborn son Massinissa, after the historic Amazigh king, sparked administrative hurdles this week. A civil registry officer at the 8th district office in the Marjane 2 neighborhood refused to register the name, despite clear legal and judicial rulings granting parents the freedom to choose names, and official instructions requiring officers to register them or refer disputes to the High Commission within 24 hours, the family's lawyer, Sabri Lhou, denounced in a post on Facebook. Lhou said the officer «placed obstacles in the way, creating unnecessary difficulties to block my client's legal right to register his son under the name Massinissa, and demanded another name be chosen». The dispute ended after the intervention of the Governor of Meknes Province. In a follow-up post on August 12, the lawyer said the governor upheld the law and «restored the prestige, status, and authority of the name Massinissa». The father was contacted by the Marjane 2 office and informed that the earlier refusal had been overturned. The incident brings the issue of civil registry officers refusing Amazigh names back into the spotlight. In the past, many parents have seen their Amazigh name choices rejected, but the Moroccan government had made its position clear on the matter. In 2023, Morocco's High Commission of the Civil Registry reaffirmed that Moroccans are free to choose Arabic, Amazigh, Hassani, or Hebrew names, provided they respect morality and public order. Since then, and under decree No. 2.22.04 implementing Law 36.21, civil registry officers must accept all declared names, even if they raise concerns, and refer them to a higher committee for a decision. This committee must provide a justification, with results communicated digitally to both the officer and the applicant.


Morocco World
12 hours ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Workers to Fill Labor Gap at Serbian Fiat Factory
Marrakech – Eight hundred workers from Morocco and Nepal will be employed at the Fiat factory in Kragujevac, Serbia, according to Serbian media reports. This decision comes as the factory struggles to find local workers willing to accept the offered wages. According to Serbian Television Kragujevac, City Councilor for Economy Radomir Erić confirmed the planned importation of foreign workers. The factory is moving forward with this plan despite approximately 9,000 unemployed people in Kragujevac. Jugoslav Ristić, the long-time leader of the Independent Trade Union of Kragujevac and the Zastava Oružje factory, explained that the arrival of foreign workers is no surprise. 'It's clear that workers from abroad will come, because for those wages, which are slightly more than RSD 70,000 ($663), people in Kragujevac are obviously not interested, as they cannot survive on that,' Ristić told the Beta agency. The average salary in Serbia is around RSD 108,000 ($1,022), while in Kragujevac it is several thousand dinars lower. At the Fiat factory, workers can earn about RSD 90,000 ($852), but only if they work every Saturday, exceeding the standard 40-hour workweek. Ristić noted that Morocco, with 37 million inhabitants, has a GDP more than three times smaller than Serbia's. This economic disparity makes Serbian wages potentially attractive to Moroccan workers despite being considered insufficient by locals. Read also: THAMM Plus: Italy Recruits Moroccan Professionals in Mechatronics This is not the first time Fiat has brought in foreign workers to its Kragujevac plant. The company previously employed Italian workers, paying them significantly more than Serbian workers – approximately €100 ($108) per day. Goran Milić, president of the regional committee of metalworkers for central Serbia from the Independent Trade Union, stated that domestic workers hired at Fiat typically stay only a few days before leaving, likely due to the low wages. Ristić believes the situation reflects broader economic policies. 'Our politicians long ago proclaimed that the number of our people leaving Serbia to work in the West should be equal to the number of those coming from abroad. The message is that Serbia must remain a zone of cheap labor. This is the policy of multinational companies, which our government supports,' he said. In a similar case, a plan to bring 80 Filipino welders to the 'Wacker Neuson' company in Serbia fell through due to tax issues. The company had expected foreign workers would pay only ten percent tax, which the state did not permit. Local Serbian welders typically earn about €2 ($2.16) per hour, while the same work abroad pays around €8 ($8.64) per hour, explaining the ongoing exodus of skilled Serbian workers to Western countries. Tags: Automotive SectorFIATMoroccan workersMorocco-Serbia relations


Morocco World
14 hours ago
- Morocco World
South Africa's Last Push to to Keep Polisario Relevant
Rabat – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is mounting a last-ditch effort to prop up the Polisario Front as its support across Africa fades. Leaning on loyal ANC allies, he has arranged carefully staged meetings with Polisario figures at recent summits, a move that highlights the group's shrinking network and growing dependence on South Africa's backing in the face of Morocco's rising influence over Western Sahara. At the First African Investment Summit on Water held in South Africa on August 13-14, Polisario's delegation, led by their 'Foreign Minister' Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, met with South African Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, herself an ANC member. Meanwhile, in Accra, a meeting took place between Abdelkader Taleb Omar, a Polisario representative, and Jeffrey Radebe, Ramaphosa's special envoy, during a summit of African political parties. Radebe, a former ANC minister, hosted the encounter. The ANC under Ramaphosa has visibly ramped up its support for the Polisario following former President Jacob Zuma's public endorsement of Morocco's position on Western Sahara. Zuma, leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, visited Morocco last month and met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita . South Africa's government strongly protested the visit, notably because the South African flag was displayed during Zuma's meeting, which the government felt implied official endorsement. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) lodged a formal objection. Zuma's MK Party, which split from the ANC, published a document endorsing Morocco's autonomy plan and rejecting Polisario's claims. The text affirms that Western Sahara historically belongs to Morocco and commends the 1975 Green March as a liberation moment. This stance marks a sharp departure from the ANC's policy. Read also: South Africa's MK Party Recognizes Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara The party later hosted a press briefing, during which the spokesperson of the party dismissed criticism from the South African government and said their foreign policy is 'directionless.' The spokesperson said that the party would continue to push for African unity under Zuma's leadership, adding that supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is part of this vision. South Africa has long supported the self-styled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Meanwhile, over the past years, Morocco has made significant headway in winning international support for its 2007 autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. The US recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020. Two years later, Spain endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it the most realistic and credible solution. In July 2024, France made a strong shift by formally backing Morocco's claim as the sole basis for a just, lasting settlement, followed by investments and diplomatic agreements. The UK joined this growing list in June 2025, describing the plan as 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' solution, placing it alongside the US and France as UN Security Council members supporting Rabat. Other African nations, including Kenya and Ghana, have also recently thrown their support behind the autonomy proposal. This cascade of recognition, from Western powers to African nations, reflects a broader breakdown of the Polisario's diplomatic isolation. Tags: MoroccoPolisarioSouth AfricaWestern sahara