🇲🇦 Morocco

Morocco is a North African kingdom of 37 million with a GDP of about $140 billion that's positioned itself as a gateway between Europe and Africa. The country has the world's largest phosphate reserves (about 70% of global reserves), controlled by the state-owned OCP Group. Morocco has invested heavily in renewable energy — the Noor-Ouarzazate solar complex is one of the world's largest concentrated solar power plants. The automotive sector has boomed, with Renault and Stellantis plants making Morocco Africa's largest car producer. Casablanca is the financial capital, while Marrakech is one of the world's top tourist destinations. The Western Sahara dispute remains unresolved.

Phosphates and derivatives (fertilizers), automotive, aerospace, textiles, and agriculture (citrus, olives, vegetables) are the main exports. France, Spain, and the EU dominate trade. Tourism generates about $10 billion annually. Morocco has free trade agreements with the US, EU, and several African countries. GDP growth has been around 3-4%. The country's Atlantic coast is becoming a hub for offshore wind energy. Agriculture still employs about 35% of the workforce and is highly vulnerable to drought.

Morocco's University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, founded in 859 AD, is recognized by UNESCO and Guinness as the world's oldest continuously operating university. The country's argan trees are found nowhere else on earth, and argan oil has become a global beauty product worth over $1 billion annually. Morocco's national football team reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals — the first African and Arab team to do so.

Morocco's industrial strategy is one of the most coherent in Africa — automotive, aerospace, renewables, and phosphates create a diversified base. The Western Sahara issue and water scarcity are the main risks, but the trajectory is clearly upward.