China expands economic, technological influence in Morocco via BRI, Digital Silk Road

ISLAMABAD: Monitoring Desk – “The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Digital Silk Road (DSR) both have accelerated their economic and technological influence in Morocco,” emphasized a recent report published on December 16 by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

Titled, “The Digital Silk Road in Morocco,” the report in Morocco News, mentioned that Morocco’s strategic location, political stability, and economic reforms have made it an attractive destination for Chinese investment.

“By investing in digital infrastructure and promoting technological advancements, China aims to strengthen its economic ties with Morocco and expand its market access in the broader region,” added the same source.

However, it explained that the geopolitical landscape in North Africa is complex, with competing Western interests. For this reason, “Morocco’s ability to navigate this geopolitical chessboard and leverage these competing initiatives will be crucial in shaping its future development trajectory.”

It argued that the success of the Digital Silk Road in Morocco will depend on the quality of Chinese infrastructure projects, the sustainability of Chinese financing, and Morocco’s ability to balance its economic and geopolitical priorities.

For context, the report highlighted that China’s partnership with Morocco has grown significantly over the past two decades, particularly since King Mohammed VI’s ascension in 1999.

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It mentioned that Morocco’s signing of a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plan in 2022 was a key milestone, becoming the first Maghreb country to do so. Since then, China’s BRI, particularly the Digital Silk Road (DSR), has expanded, with Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE driving IT infrastructure projects like broadband networks and smart cities.

The same source emphasized that Chinese aims in Morocco are to build investments and trade ties and bolster its market reach in the extended regions–the Med-Atlantic region and Sub-Saharan Africa.

For the record, it added that since the early 2000s, China’s economic presence in Morocco has grown significantly, with China becoming the third-largest exporter to Morocco in 2023 and investing heavily in the country’s green energy and technology sectors, driven by Morocco’s stable political environment, liberal investment policies, and its strategic trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The report argued that due to rising tariffs, sanctions, and duties from the US, Canada, and the EU on Chinese goods, China’s competitiveness has been challenged, “expanding the significance of Moroccan shores for China’s geoeconomic and strategic play.”

Pakistan in the World – December 2024