Tangier – Joshua Lhote, President of the Gibraltar Morocco Business Association (GMBA), has highlighted Morocco’s growing role as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations, emphasizing that the Kingdom’s economic transformation under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI is creating significant opportunities for businesses from Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.
Speaking on the Across the Table podcast, Lhote said Morocco’s strategic location, political stability, modern infrastructure, and business-friendly environment have positioned the country as a regional gateway connecting Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
According to Lhote, Gibraltar is uniquely placed to serve as a commercial and financial bridge between the UK and Morocco. He noted that Gibraltar’s proximity to northern Morocco, combined with its internationally recognized financial and professional services sector, offers British companies an efficient platform for expanding into Moroccan and African markets.
He also pointed to the role of UK Export Finance (UKEF), the British government’s export credit agency, which provides financing and guarantees to support UK exports and international trade. Lhote suggested that these mechanisms could further strengthen commercial partnerships involving Morocco and Gibraltar.
On the Moroccan side, he praised the Kingdom’s investment strategy, highlighting government incentives designed to attract foreign investors, major investments in industrial zones, transport infrastructure, ports, and renewable energy, as well as policies aimed at supporting manufacturing and international business.
Lhote cited Tangier Med Port as one of the world’s leading logistics hubs and noted Morocco’s emergence as Africa’s largest automotive manufacturing center, attracting major investments from Europe, Asia, and the Gulf region. He also underlined the growing regional influence of Moroccan banking institutions across the African continent.
Looking ahead, he identified logistics, financial services, tourism, digital services, accounting, business process outsourcing, and manufacturing as sectors with significant growth potential. He revealed that some Gibraltar-based firms have already established operations in Tangier to benefit from Morocco’s skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, and strategic location.
Lhote stressed that one of the biggest challenges remains awareness, arguing that many British businesses are still unfamiliar with Morocco’s economic progress and investment opportunities.
“The first step is simply to learn about Morocco,” he said. “Many international companies have discovered opportunities they were previously unaware of once they started engaging with the market.”
He concluded by expressing confidence that stronger economic cooperation between Morocco, Gibraltar, and the United Kingdom could create a new model of regional integration, strengthening trade, investment, and innovation across the Strait of Gibraltar while contributing to shared prosperity on both sides.
