The Evolution of Moroccan Diaspora Investment
On May 8, 2026, the vibrant city of Marrakech played host to a significant gathering as the Economic Forum for Moroccans Worldwide, organized by the Moroccan World Trophy Foundation, commenced its second edition. This year's forum showcased the diverse representation of attendees hailing from continents such as Europe, North America, the Gulf, and Asia. The event aimed to redefine the traditional role of the Moroccan diaspora, with Amine Saad, the president of the TMM foundation, stating emphatically that "the contribution of Moroccans worldwide is no longer limited to financial remittances; it has now shifted towards productive investment and value creation." This announcement set the tone for a day filled with insightful discussions and presentations.
Following three thematic panels, a keynote address, and an awards ceremony, the overarching message resonated clearly: Morocco has laid the groundwork for investment infrastructure, and now the challenge lies in persuading its diaspora to leverage these opportunities. The first panel, which focused on productive investment and innovation, revealed astonishing statistics presented by Ali Seddiki, the General Director of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). He reported that foreign direct investments are nearing $7 billion in 2025, reflecting a nearly 40% increase compared to the previous year. This statistic underscores a fundamental shift in the investment landscape, facilitated by various enabling mechanisms.
However, what stands out is the significant role of Moroccans living abroad (MDM) within this investment momentum. Said Jabrani, General Director of TAMWILCOM, provided a more focused and surprising insight, revealing that "50% of the startups we have supported are led by MREs (Moroccans residing abroad)." This statistic speaks volumes about the entrepreneurial profile of the diaspora, often characterized by youth, technological awareness, and a dual culture that Morocco can greatly benefit from. Lamiae Benmakhlouf, the Director General of Technopark, echoed this sentiment, highlighting a thriving ecosystem of six technology parks housing around 500 startups, with 20% of them being diaspora-led. She described these initiatives as smart investments that extend beyond mere financial contributions, incorporating expertise, experience sharing, and knowledge transfer with local startups.
Transforming Investment Dynamics
The spectrum of sectors being explored by MDM has expanded remarkably, encompassing areas from fintech to precision agriculture and artificial intelligence in healthcare, aligning closely with Morocco's strategic priorities. Mohamed Amimi, Executive Director of the Popular Bank of Morocco, emphasized a notable transformation in the nature of investment proposals received from the diaspora. He observed that MDM, who previously invested primarily in real estate to support their families, have now evolved into strategic investors. Furthermore, the geographical scope of these projects has broadened significantly, with investment proposals now emerging not only from traditional markets like France, Spain, and Italy but also from countries such as the United States, Qatar, Singapore, and Denmark, indicating a globalization of the diaspora's ambitions.
The second panel addressed a critical question: how can the savings of the diaspora be mobilized through alternative financing channels rather than conventional banking systems? The Moroccan government has structured its public support for startups to assist at every stage of a project’s lifecycle, beginning with grants of up to 200,000 dirhams to allow entrepreneurs to test and refine their ideas. If a project shows promise, it can qualify for an interest-free loan of 500,000 dirhams based on the credibility of the applicant, without the standard bank guarantees. For established projects seeking to scale, accelerated credit of up to 2 million dirhams is available, ensuring that viable projects do not fail due to untimely funding.
Additionally, crowdfunding plays a crucial role in supporting nascent projects that may not yet qualify for bank financing, while investment funds provide guidance and patient capital, and banks help secure scaling efforts. Addressing concerns about repatriating investment returns, Younes Bouchelkha from the Office des changes reassured attendees that MREs enjoy the same guarantees as foreign non-resident investors, including complete freedom to transfer capital and income, as well as the ability to open accounts in foreign currencies or convertible dirhams without conditions. Since 2015, MRE revenues have doubled from 60.2 billion to 122 billion dirhams in 2025, underscoring the critical guarantees in place for investors.
The third panel shifted the focus to regional investment dynamics, illustrating the emerging investment geography beyond major cities. Rachid Rami, General Director of the CRI Oriental, painted a picture of a region undergoing transformation, with 150 billion dirhams committed to public investment over the past twenty years to enhance infrastructure. The private sector is now expected to step up, with the diaspora playing an increasingly vital role, contributing to 30-40% of industrial projects in regional parks. Sectors such as industry, IT, logistics, tourism, and healthcare reflect a diversifying investment landscape year by year.
The day concluded with a celebratory awards ceremony recognizing outstanding Moroccan entrepreneurs worldwide. This event distinguished businesses established in Morocco by MDM or Moroccan extensions of foreign-founded entities. Notably, Hafssa Chakibi, a physicochemical engineer and founder of Flora Sina, received the Economic Impact Award, while Mohamed Bouzidi, co-founder and CEO of Avaliance, was honored with the Innovation Award. Lastly, Kamal Bouzir, co-founder and CEO of Stanley Group, secured the Investment Award, showcasing the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit present and the immense potential waiting to be harnessed.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
