Moroccan and Senegalese business leaders met in Casablanca on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to express a unified commitment to developing new economic partnerships and elevating the private sector’s role in bilateral cooperation.
This dialogue took place during the Morocco-Senegal Economic Forum, held in conjunction with the 15th Joint High Commission. Participants explored co-investment opportunities designed to leverage the complementary strengths of both economies, focusing specifically on the banking, industrial, pharmaceutical, energy, and logistics sectors to drive regional integration.
Moroccan executives highlighted the success of integrated approaches like the Africa Development Club, which has fostered networking and multi-sectoral missions for over a decade while prioritizing the mobilization of local human resources. Meanwhile, Senegalese business leaders noted that the banking and insurance industries remain the primary drivers of value for Moroccan investment in Senegal. They emphasized that strengthening investor ties is essential for upgrading industrial sectors and supporting large-scale structuring projects.
The forum, organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and various investment agencies, featured addresses from both nations’ top leadership. Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch described Senegal as a natural gateway to West Africa, noting that bilateral trade reached nearly $300 million in the first ten months of 2025. He further highlighted that Morocco’s $540 million investment in Senegal has helped the Kingdom become the leading African investor in West Africa.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko advocated for a strategic shift from simple trade flows toward a partnership defined by co-production, local processing, and integrated value chains. He called for more balanced trade supported by a joint trade committee and better information exchange between markets. Both Sonko and CGEM President Chakib Alj urged the private sector to seize the opportunities created by recently signed cooperation agreements to launch innovative, job-creating projects for the youth of both nations.
AK/fss/abj/APA