The upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco is hosting jointly with Portugal and Spain, is acting as an economic accelerator in the kingdom. The tournament is much more than a sporting event: it is driving comprehensive modernisation of infrastructure, industry and energy supply and strengthening Morocco’s role as a strategic interface between Europe and Africa.
A key project is the Casa-blanca Rail Project initiated by King Mohammed VI, for which around USD 2.2 billion has been earmarked. Plans include new stations and around 260 kilometres of additional rail links, including a frequent service connecting Casablanca to the airport and the new Stade Hassan II, which is to be built by 2028 with a capacity of 115,000. At the same time, the port landscape is being expanded: the deep-sea port of Nador West Med is set to build on the success of Tanger Med, the largest port in North Africa.
Tourism, energy and industrial modernisation
The tourism sector is also growing strongly: after welcoming 19.8 million visitors in 2025, the country is aiming for 26 million guests annually by 2030. Accordingly, airports in Marrakesh, Casablanca and Agadir are being expanded; government subsidies are supporting hotel projects and the modernisation of traditional riads (townhouses with courtyard gardens).
Morocco is pursuing ambitious energy policy goals. By 2030, over 52 per cent of electricity demand is to come from renewable sources. In particular, gigawatt-scale wind power projects form the basis for the future production of green hydrogen, which is to be supplied to Europe. This orientation also makes Morocco a potential nearshoring location for climate-friendly production.
Industrial development goes beyond infrastructure: companies are investing more in smart manufacturing and modernising their production lines. In the automotive industry in particular, there is growing demand for high-precision machine tools, robotics and automation technology from Germany.
Market opportunities and regulatory specifics
Germany is already one of the most important investors in the country; according to the Federal Statistical Office, bilateral trade volume reached 6.7 billion euros in 2024. In addition, a cooperation programme worth 630 million euros has been agreed for 2026/27.
However, large-scale government projects increasingly require local value creation. Pure delivery models have a harder time than concepts involving local assembly, service or cooperation. Administrative processes remain formalistic but are increasingly being digitised. The central PortNet platform controls almost all import processes and increases the requirements for complete and consistent documentation.
Another success factor is language: despite the increasing importance of English, French remains the dominant business language. Contracts and technical documents should be available in French to avoid delays.
Competition and financing practices
Competition is intense. Suppliers from Spain and France benefit from geographical proximity and historical ties, while Chinese and Turkish companies are aggressive in their pricing. German companies primarily impress with their quality, but they need to combine this with a focus on service and long-term partnerships.
In project business, open-ended bid, advance payment or contract performance guarantees are common and remain effective until formal approval. This increases costs and risks for exporters. In addition to traditional forms of payment such as bank transfer, documentary collection or letter of credit, the latter continues to be the standard for new business relationships; advance payments of up to 100 per cent are also possible. In established partnerships, letters of credit are sometimes waived, although political and conversion-related risks should still be considered.
Source: ExportManager (in German)
