Japan and Morocco 21

Utagawacho,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo, Japan - 2021.2.14 : Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
- 42% of population under 25 years old
- 75: Number of Japanese companies operating in Morocco
- 49,000: People employed by Japanese companies in Morocco
- 2x: Increase in Japanese companies in past six years
‘Now sustainable’
Morocco is tackling the climate crisis head-on by positioning itself to have one of the world’s most competitive low-carbon industries. Japanese organizations have shown significant cooperation and investment in the fields of wind and solar power. Morocco’s commitment to renewable energy spans more than a decade.
- 2009: National decision and first investments made toward developing renewable energy.
- 2016: Development of Noor Energy 1 solar power plant is launched.
- 2020: Renewable energy accounts for 37% of Morocco’s energy mix.
- 2021: Four gigawatts of installed capacity from renewable energy achieved.
- 2022: Taza wind farm, backed by Japanese investment, begins operations.
- 2025: Projects for green hydrogen to be commissioned.
- 2030: Target for electrical capacity from renewable sources to be set at 52%.
‘Now competitive’
Morocco has consistently ranked among the most attractive investment destinations in Africa and has played an important role as a regional trading hub for centuries. Today, it leads the way in terms of world-class infrastructure and digital connectivity across the African continent and offers a “best cost” value proposition.
- Access to 1 billion consumers through free trade agreements with almost 50 countries
- Distance from Europe: 15 km
- Average labor costs: US$327
- Tangier Med Port, the first transshipment platform in Africa, boasts 186 connections with 77 countries
- Airports: 18
- Industrial Zones: 100
- First “bullet train” in Africa
‘Now well-proven’
Morocco is the leading car manufacturer in Africa and has an automotive ecosystem of 250 companies. Its aerospace sector has 140 companies and an average yearly growth rate of 20%.
- Business-friendly environment
- •Political stability
- Resilient economy
- •Human capital
- Effective government incentives
- • World-class “Special Economic Zones”
- End-to-end assistance and support from Morocco’s Investment & Export Development Agency (AMDIE)
‘Now agile’
Agility is part of Morocco’s DNA and key in a fast-changing world. Morocco is often described by foreign investors as agile, responsive and able to turn crisis into opportunity.
“We invite foreign investors and international buyers to explore the powerful investment and sourcing opportunities Morocco has to offer. We guarantee concrete solutions to the challenges facing the global value chain today and a strong commitment to the success of all investment projects in the country.”
— Youssef El Bari, General Manager of AMDIE

Learn more about Morocco: www.morocconow.com
A Japanese version of the ‘Morocco Now’ website is also available: www.morocconow.com/ja
Basic Data
Diplomatic Relations:
- Established in 1956 with the recognition of Morocco’s independence
- 1961 Japanese Embassy opened in Morocco
- 1965 Moroccan Embassy opened in Japan
Bilateral Treaties and Agreement:
- 1960 Trading Arrangement
- 1985 Fisheries Agreement
Number of Residents:
- Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Morocco: 350 (October 2018)
- Number of Moroccan Nationals residing in Japan: 637 (June 2019)
Economic Relations
Trade with Japan:
- Imports from Japan : U.S.$ 259 million (2018) (automobiles, machinery)
- Exports to Japan : U.S.$ 150 million (2018) (seafood, phosphate rock)
Other Economic Relations:
- The Moroccan Embassy in Japan hosts the Morocco business seminars approximately every year in Tokyo as well as other local cities, in cooperation with JICA, JETRO, UNIDO and JCCME (Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East).
- In addition, the Moroccan representative delegation led by the Minister of Energy, Mine Water and Environment had attended the 2nd Japan-Arab Economic Forums in December 2010 and appealed for cooperation with Japan regarding the promotion of using solar energy as a generation system.
Japan’s Economic Cooperation:
- Loans: 311.609 billion yen (List of Exchange of Notes)
- Grants: 37.111 billion yen (List of Exchange of Notes)
- Technical Cooperation: 39.369 billion yen
- (note) Cumulative total as of March 2017
(a) Japan has provided support in the form of loan aid, grant aid and technical cooperation. The focused fields are 1) enhancing competitive economy and sustainable economic growth especially through strengthening infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture and human capacity development and 2) easing economic and social disparities between urban and local areas through improving education and public health.
(b) With over 40 years of experiences and knowledge transferred from Japan, Morocco has been actively contributing to develop South-South Cooperation toward African nations in multiple fields such as fishery and road rehabilitation. In September 2003, to promote Japanese technical cooperation towards the southern African nations, Japan and Morocco signed a framework document regarding the “Japan-Morocco Triangular Technical Cooperation Program for The Promotion of South-South Cooperation in Africa.”
(c) Recent Major Projects:
Project for Flood Forecasting and Warning System in High Atlas Area (2010 grant), Rural Road Improvement Project (II) (2011, loan), Fez and Meknes Regions Water Supply Project (2011, loan) , Sewerage System Development Project (III) (2012, loan), Non-Project Aid on Next Generation Eco Friendly Vehicles (2012, grant), Basic Education Sector Support Project (2013, loan), Project for Construction of Shellfish Aquaculture Technology Research Center (2015, grant) , Green Morocco Plan Support Program (2016, loan), Project for Improvement of Equipment for Security Enhancement (2015, grant), Economic and Social Development Programme (2016 and 2017, grant), Oceanographic and Fishery Research Vessel Construction Project (2017, loan).
Cultural Exchange:
- (a) Receiving Moroccan students to study in Japan as Japanese governmental scholars every year
- (b) Senior volunteers from JICA teach Japanese language in several institutes including Mohammad V University.
- (c) Cultural grants were provided in the past, and cultural projects are being held in the Japanese Embassy.
Friendship League:
- Japan-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship League
- Morocco-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League
- Japan-Morocco Association
- Morocco-Japan Friendship Association
VIP Visits
Year | Name of Japanese Dignitaries |
---|---|
2009 | Mr. Koichi TAKEMASA, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ms. Akiko SANTO, Vice President of the House of Councillors |
2010 | Ms. Yasue FUNAYAMA, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
2012 | Mr. Koichiro GEMBA, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kazuyuki HAMADA, Parliamentay Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Hiroyuki ISHIGE, Director of JETRO |
2013 | Mr. Kenji KOSAKA, President of the Morocco-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League Mr. Shunichi YAMAGUCHI, Vice-Minister for Finance |
2014 | Mr. Nobuo KISHI, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Akihiko TANAKA, President of JICA Mr. Hiroyuki ISHIGE, Chairman & CEO of JETRO |
2015 | Mr. Kentaro SONOURA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2016 | Mr. Yoshio HAYASHI, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. Yoji Muto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Motome TAKISAWA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Koichi YAMAMOTO, Minister of the Environrmrnt |
2017 | Mr. Chuichi DATE, Speaker of the House of Counsilors Mr. Shinichi KITAOKA, President of JICA Mr. Shunsuke TAKEI, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Hirofumi NAKASONE, President of the Morocco-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association Mr. Masahisa SATO, State Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2018 January | Mr. Takao MAKINO, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
2018 June | Mr. Tadahiko ITO, State Minister of the Enviroment (the 1st Annual Meeting of the African Clean Cities Platform) |
2018 October | Mr. Susumu HAMAMURA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Second OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) global conference on antimicrobial resistance and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in animals) |
2018 December | Mr. Norikazu SUZUKI, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (The Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration) |
2018 December | Mr. Taro KONO, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2019 September | Japan-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship League -Mr. Hirofumi NAKASONE, President of the League, Member of the House of Counsellors -Mr. Yuichiro HATA, Secretary-General of the League, Member of the House of Counsellors -Mr. Yosuke TSURUHO, Member of the House of Counsellors -Ms. Masako MORI, Member of the House of Counsellors -Mr. Takeyuki WATANABE, Member of the House of Counsellors (official visit organized by the House of Counsellors of Morocco) Mr. Teruhiko MASHIKO, Member of the House of Counsellors Mr. Yoshinori SUEMATSU, Member of the House of Counsellors (Arab and Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting and Study Visit on Population and Development for ICPD+25) |
2020 January | Mr. Keisuke SUZUKI, State Minister for Foreign Affairs(The 5th Japan-Morocco Joint Committee) |
2020 February | Mr. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shinichi NAKATANI (The Public and Private Sector Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa) |
Year | Name of Moroccan Dignitaries |
---|---|
2005 | Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Amina Mr. Fathallah OUALALOU, Minister of Finance and Economy His Majesty the King Mohamed VI (State visit: November) |
2006 | Mr. Mohamed LAENSER, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Sea Fisheries Mr. Mohamed BENAISSA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Mohammed BOUSSAÏD, Minister for Public Sector Modernization |
2008 | Mr. Abbas EL FASSI, Prime Minister(TICAD IV) Mr. Ahmed Reda CHAMI, Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies Ms. Amina BENKHADRA, Minister of Energy, Mine, Water and Environment |
2010 | Mr. Aziz AKHENOUCH, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Maritime Fisheries |
2012 | Mr. Saad Dine EL OTMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Nizar BARAKA, Minister of Economy and Finance |
2013 | Mr. Saad Dine EL OTMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Mohamed Najib BOULIF, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of General Affairs and Governance Mr. Abdelkader AMARA, Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies Ms. Mbarka BOUAIDA, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Mamoun BOUHADHOUD, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Industry , Trade , investment and the Digital Economy for SMEs and the integration of the informal sector |
2014 | Mr. Aziz RABBAH, Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics Mr. Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Chairman of the House of Councillors Mr. Aziz AKHANNOUCH, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasna |
2015 | Mr. Mohamed Najib BOULIF, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics |
2016 | Mr. Moulay Hafid EL ALAMY, Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy |
2017 | Mr. Moulay Hafid EL ALAMY, Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy Mr. Othmane El FERDAOUS, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy, responsible for investment |
2018 February | Ms. Mbarka BOUAIDA, State Secretary for Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forest, in charge of Fisheries |
2018 April | Ms. Mounia Boucetta, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation |
2018 May | Mr. Othmane El FERDAOUS, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy, in charge of Investment |
2018 October | Mr. Mohcine JAZOULI, Minister delegate to the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of African Cooperation |
2018 November | Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasna (2018 Goi Peace Award Laureate) |
2019 June | Mr. Moulay Hafid EL ALAMY, Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy Mr. Othmane El FERDAOUS, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy, in charge of Investment |
2019 August | Mr. Nasser BOURITA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr. Mohcine JAZOULI, Minister delegate to the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of African Cooperation (TICAD7) |
2019 October | His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid (Enthronement Ceremony) |