5 May 2017
Morocco – gateway to Africa
By: Karsten Riise
Morocco has the economic advantages of Europe and Africa.
Morocco – gateway to Africa
By: Karsten Riise
Morocco has the economic advantages of Europe and Africa.
For
efficient export to Europe (and even the USA), Morocco has the advantages of
East Asia, skills and infrastructure at competitive costs, but with a closer
cross-cultural tradition, and at a 100 times closer logistical position. It if
takes 3 weeks to sail goods from Hong Kong to Antwerp, from Tangier, it will
probably take less than a week. Time is money, and companies need to adjust
their deliveries fast and stay close to their customers, also in Europe.
Morocco
as part of the Arab world has a great indirect business importance. Wider than
Arab, it is also as a Muslim culture, connecting Morocco with Arabs as well as
other Muslim people all the way across Africa, Turkey, Central Asia, Persia and
all the way to East Asia. Morocco has probably in a good way has also absorbed
ideas of the French tradition of a non-religious state (laïque). However, Islam
is not only a world religion, Islam is also a world culture – a uniting
community with a lot of warmth.
Today, European countries probably mostly perceive the Arab (and most of the Muslim) world more as a security risk, and sadly not so much as a growing region for investment. However, very many Muslim and Arab countries are growing in economy as well as and in education for all people. But as a paradox, the difficult situation perceived in some other parts of the Arab (and Muslim) world, makes Morocco one of the very most important allies, not only to France, but to the USA and all European countries – including Denmark. All European countries need Morocco to increase her social and economic success as an Arab (and Muslim) partner close to Europe.
European security services have an interest to support Morocco to obtain even more successful business and western government contacts, to promote your development.
Today, European countries probably mostly perceive the Arab (and most of the Muslim) world more as a security risk, and sadly not so much as a growing region for investment. However, very many Muslim and Arab countries are growing in economy as well as and in education for all people. But as a paradox, the difficult situation perceived in some other parts of the Arab (and Muslim) world, makes Morocco one of the very most important allies, not only to France, but to the USA and all European countries – including Denmark. All European countries need Morocco to increase her social and economic success as an Arab (and Muslim) partner close to Europe.
European security services have an interest to support Morocco to obtain even more successful business and western government contacts, to promote your development.
Africa
is Morocco’s ultimate card.
A continent of 1 billion people is about to become 2 billion in just 25 years. Germany, the EU and all the G-20 countries incl. USA and China, want to vastly increase money investments for business development in Africa. It will happen. Big money will start to flow into African business. And Morocco is first stop for business going from Europe to Africa. So Morocco is right to promote Morocco as a hub, not just for business from Morocco to Europe, but also for investments going from Europe into all of Africa. Develop a “Singapore” model for Morocco in Africa. Singapore is a transit harbor, unloading and reloading goods going to Europe. Singapore is financial hub for money invested in Asia. Singapore has the Asia air connections, the best investment climate and highest educated population in Asia. Last but maybe most important, Morocco can be the place in Africa to go for westerners, who need partners with knowledge and connections about how to do business in the rest of Africa. The more Morocco itself integrates into Africa, the more you can promote Morocco as a place to start doing business in Africa. Banks are excellent for this role, because good banks not just have money – good banks combine knowledge and human networks with money and investment opportunities. Morocco should build banks, too.
A continent of 1 billion people is about to become 2 billion in just 25 years. Germany, the EU and all the G-20 countries incl. USA and China, want to vastly increase money investments for business development in Africa. It will happen. Big money will start to flow into African business. And Morocco is first stop for business going from Europe to Africa. So Morocco is right to promote Morocco as a hub, not just for business from Morocco to Europe, but also for investments going from Europe into all of Africa. Develop a “Singapore” model for Morocco in Africa. Singapore is a transit harbor, unloading and reloading goods going to Europe. Singapore is financial hub for money invested in Asia. Singapore has the Asia air connections, the best investment climate and highest educated population in Asia. Last but maybe most important, Morocco can be the place in Africa to go for westerners, who need partners with knowledge and connections about how to do business in the rest of Africa. The more Morocco itself integrates into Africa, the more you can promote Morocco as a place to start doing business in Africa. Banks are excellent for this role, because good banks not just have money – good banks combine knowledge and human networks with money and investment opportunities. Morocco should build banks, too.
It
seems clear, how the South is important for Morocco. Morocco needs a
land-bridge to Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and West Africa. How to solve this
politically, I cannot say – a union, perhaps. Membership of the African Union
was a great and absolutely necessary step to integrate Morocco into Africa.
Morocco already have great physical connection over water to the North - to
Europe. In addition to your excellent water-connectivity, Morocco also needs an
excellent physical connection on land to the South – to all the other parts of
Africa.
Promoting
Morocco as European gateway to Africa will give Morocco friends in Europe and
Africa to lift Morocco up as one of Africa’s best connected business centers.
If Morocco can convince African countries, especially in West Africa, that
Morocco as a leading African business center can help attract business for the
benefit of all West Africa, then other African countries see an interest to
work in business, diplomacy and public relations, together with Morocco, to
make more promotion for Africa. And within this African context, of course,
also for Morocco.
Morocco
can also increase contacts with Germany. The Africa- agenda of Germany makes
Germany want to assist Morocco to be connected - even in Denmark. Germany is
Denmark’s most important European partner – Denmark’s government, business and
banks listen to Germany. Germany needs Africa to become a social and economic
success – make this a part of your global advantage. In the short time-span of
only one year, 2016, Germany took in about 1 million refugees from Africa and
Syria. Germany doesn’t want to do that again. It became a big issue in Germany,
and Germany cannot do it again. But even though Germany is rich, Germany alone
is of course not rich enough to lift-up all of Africa. This is why Germany needs
the cooperation of the other G20 and EU-countries, including Denmark, that
together they can invest the very, very many billions of Euros which must go
into Africa every year: To create enough jobs in Africa, so that 2 billion
Africans in 25 years can be happy in their own region, instead of migrating to
Europe (via Morocco).
The more Morocco becomes a gateway for business going into Africa South of Sahara, the more Morocco will become a Number One European partner.
The more Morocco becomes a gateway for business going into Africa South of Sahara, the more Morocco will become a Number One European partner.
Karsten Riise
Partner & Editor
CHANGE NEWS &
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
