New Delhi, August 27 (APAC Media): India and Morocco have agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years, with both countries planning a Joint Working Group (JWG) to identify new trade opportunities and examine the feasibility of a preferential trade agreement (PTA).
The decisions were taken during the 7th Session of the India-Morocco Joint Commission, co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Jitin Prasada and Morocco’s Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira during Prasada’s visit to Morocco on August 24-25.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around $4 billion in 2025.
Both sides agreed to diversify the trade basket, expand market access in goods and services and tap the untapped potential of their economic partnership.
Joint Working Group to Explore Trade Expansion
The proposed JWG will examine tariff and non-tariff barriers and identify measures to improve market access and facilitate trade in goods and services.
India and Morocco will also increase business delegations, prospecting missions and networking activities to identify new opportunities, joint ventures, and partnerships.
Sectors identified for expanding trade include fertilisers and chemicals, minerals, machinery and electrical equipment, automobiles and automotive components, building materials, polymers, agri-food products, tea, metals and tourism.
Both countries also highlighted the importance of predictable and timely market access for pharmaceutical products. India raised concerns related to market authorisation procedures, approval timelines and other market-access issues affecting its pharmaceutical exports.
Greater Business-to-Business Engagement
The two countries agreed to strengthen private-sector cooperation through participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, business forums and investment-related activities.
The Morocco-India Business Council and the Morocco-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry are also expected to play a stronger role in facilitating business partnerships and investment.
Cooperation in Agriculture and Food Safety
India and Morocco agreed to expand cooperation in sustainable agriculture, food security, food safety, agricultural research, digital agriculture, biotechnology and agricultural value chains.
As part of the cooperation, Morocco’s National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) and India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed an MoU on food safety.
The agreement will facilitate the exchange of information, technical expertise and best practices, along with capacity-building initiatives to support safe and sustainable bilateral trade.
Cultural Cooperation Strengthened
India and Morocco also signed a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026-2030 covering artist and professional exchanges, festivals, exhibitions, heritage conservation and cooperation between museums, libraries and archival institutions.
The two countries will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, with both sides viewing the milestone as an opportunity to deepen cultural and people-to-people ties.
India Invites Moroccan Investment
At the Morocco-India Business Forum in Casablanca, Prasada invited Moroccan businesses to invest in India and explore joint ventures across emerging sectors.
The forum highlighted opportunities in automotive, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, startups, finance, fertilisers, chemicals, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Potential areas discussed included EV components, precision automotive manufacturing, solar energy, energy storage, grid management, fintech, AI, hospitals, diagnostics, medical devices and digital health.
A high-level Indian business delegation led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) also held discussions with Moroccan business organisations to explore partnerships.
Fertiliser Cooperation Remains a Key Area
During his visit, Prasada visited India-Maroc Phosphore (IMACID), a joint venture involving Morocco’s OCP Group and Indian partners, to review cooperation in phosphates and fertilisers.
India and Morocco reaffirmed the importance of their longstanding partnership in the strategic fertiliser sector, including joint ventures involving OCP, Paradeep Phosphates Limited and IMACID.
The OCP team reiterated its commitment to supplying phosphates and fertilisers according to the requirements of India’s agricultural sector. The partnership is expected to support India’s fertiliser supply chains while strengthening wider cooperation in the sector.
AI and Digital Transformation on Cooperation Agenda
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence also emerged as areas for future cooperation during Prasada’s meetings with senior Moroccan ministers and officials.
The discussions covered trade, investment, industry, AI and digital transformation, with both sides looking to deepen engagement in emerging technologies.
The next session of the India-Morocco Joint Commission will be held in New Delhi on a mutually agreed date.
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