Kazakhstan and Morocco Discuss Expanding Trade and Investment Cooperation

A meeting was held in Astana between Murat Karimsakov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, and representatives of Morocco’s diplomatic and business communities. The parties discussed prospects for expanding bilateral trade, establishing joint ventures and using Morocco’s logistics infrastructure to bring Kazakh products to African markets.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Rachid Maaninou, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Kazakhstan; Professor Amine Laghidi, Head of the Moroccan Delegation and Chairman of the African Congress of Mining and Energy; and Rachid Zahid, President and CEO of ZAHI Group.

Murat Karimsakov presented opportunities for doing business and localizing production in Kazakhstan, highlighting the potential for cooperation in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, information technology and pharmaceuticals. He emphasized the readiness of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan to facilitate direct business contacts and support cooperation between entrepreneurs from both countries.

“Kazakhstan and Morocco have significant opportunities to work together, particularly in food security, mining and fertilizer production. We see prospects not only for supplying products but also for establishing joint production facilities with subsequent access to other markets. The Chamber is ready to help entrepreneurs find partners and develop specific projects,” said Murat Karimsakov.

Particular attention was paid to supplies of Kazakh grain. According to the Moroccan Ambassador, shipments of Kazakh wheat resumed last year after a lengthy interruption, with two vessels carrying 30,000 tonnes each. The Moroccan side expressed interest in increasing purchases and highlighted demand for raw materials for fertilizer production.

Professor Amine Laghidi presented Morocco’s potential as a trade and logistics hub for promoting products in African, Mediterranean and Southern European markets. The discussion covered the use of port and warehouse infrastructure, food storage arrangements and the development of supply chains. In this context, the participants explored opportunities for cooperation with ZAHI Group, including in refrigerated warehousing infrastructure.

“Morocco can become a distribution hub for Kazakhstan’s oil and gas products and chemical products. We are also interested in pharmaceutical cooperation and exchanging expertise in technology and artificial intelligence. It is important to focus on specific projects: successful practical results will provide a foundation for further expanding our partnership,” emphasized Amine Laghidi.

The parties also discussed establishing joint ventures, investment cooperation and reducing transportation costs by increasing shipment volumes. The participants noted that combining Kazakhstan’s production potential with Morocco’s trade and logistics capabilities opens up additional prospects for businesses in both countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Moroccan delegation exchanged contact details to further develop the proposals and establish direct cooperation between interested companies.