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Morocco: Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Morocco
Business relationships in Morocco are built on personal trust, and initial meetings often begin with conversation about family, travel or general interests before business is discussed. Greetings are usually formal: use professional titles and surnames until invited to do otherwise. Handshakes are customary, although some people may prefer not to shake hands with someone of the opposite sex; allow the other person to initiate.
Appointments should be arranged in advance and confirmed shortly beforehand. Visitors should arrive punctually, although meetings may start late or continue longer than expected. Decisions are often made by senior figures and may require several meetings, so patience and regular personal contact are important.
French is widely used in commerce and government, while Arabic is also used and English is increasingly common in international companies. Confirm the working language before a meeting and arrange an interpreter if necessary. Business cards printed in French or Arabic are useful and should be presented and received respectfully, preferably with the right hand or both hands.
Business dress is generally smart and conservative. During Ramadan, working days may be shorter and meetings are best arranged earlier in the day. Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in front of colleagues who are fasting, and allow additional time for business decisions and responses.
Morocco has a diversified economy based on services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and tourism. Casablanca is the main commercial and financial centre, while Tangier has developed into an important automotive, manufacturing and logistics hub. Major industries include vehicle production, aerospace components, food processing, textiles, electronics and phosphate mining.
Morocco holds extensive phosphate reserves and is a leading producer of phosphate-based fertilisers. Agriculture remains an important source of employment and export earnings, producing cereals, citrus fruit, vegetables, olives and livestock, although output varies considerably with rainfall. Tourism and remittances from Moroccans living abroad are also major sources of foreign currency.
Investment in ports, railways, renewable energy and manufacturing has supported economic development and closer integration with European supply chains. Continuing challenges include unemployment, regional inequality, water scarcity, dependence on imported energy and fluctuations in agricultural production due to drought.
Motor vehicles and automotive components, electrical wiring and equipment, and phosphate rock and fertilisers.
Crude and refined petroleum, gas, machinery and electrical equipment, and vehicles and components.
Keeping in Touch in Morocco
The principal mobile network operators are Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and inwi. Coverage is generally good in cities, towns and along major roads, but may be unreliable in remote mountain, desert and rural areas.
Prepaid SIM cards and data packages are widely available from operator shops, authorised retailers and airport outlets. Visitors must present their passport when registering a SIM card. Check that the card has been registered and activated before leaving the shop.
Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, riads, restaurants, cafés and shopping centres, although speed and reliability vary. Connections are generally good in major cities and tourist resorts but may be slower in rural, mountain and desert areas.
Mobile data is widely used and prepaid packages are generally inexpensive. Travellers requiring a dependable connection outside the main cities should check the coverage maps of the mobile operators before choosing a SIM card.
Television remains an important source of news, although online news services and social media are increasingly influential. The state broadcaster Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision operates Al Aoula and several other television and radio channels. Other prominent broadcasters include 2M and Medi1 TV.
Newspapers and news websites are published in Arabic and French. Leading outlets include Le Matin, L'Économiste, Assabah and the online news service Hespress. International television channels and foreign newspapers are available in larger cities and tourist hotels.
The constitution provides for freedom of expression, but reporting on the monarchy, Islam and Morocco's territorial claims is sensitive and may attract legal restrictions. Journalists and online commentators sometimes practise self-censorship when discussing these subjects.
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