German Enterprises Association opens office in Rabat

The German Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW) inaugurated its office in Morocco’s capital, Rabat.

The office will help support the establishment and growth of German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco, strengthen ties, and foster industrial and economic cooperation.

BVMW plans to promote lasting partnerships industry, education, vocational training, job creation, and innovation, and expand trade and cultural exchanges while opening opportunities for joint projects in Africa.

Karim Zidane, minister delegate for Investment and Christoph Ahlhaus, BVMW’s CEO, attended the office opening ceremony.

Ahlhaus described the opening as a major step in strengthening economic relations between Moroccan and European companies, noting that SMEs represent 34 associations, nearly 2.1 million businesses, and over 20 million employees across the continent.

BVMW’s CEO highlighted Morocco’s growing appeal to European entrepreneurs, pointing to its 2000 free trade agreement with the European Union and preferential deals with more than 60 countries. These frameworks have attracted major investors such as Renault and Stellantis, making Morocco Europe’s leading exporter of cars and auto parts in 2024, ahead of China and Japan.

The Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) and the German International Cooperation agency (GIZ) co-sponsored the opening.

During the inauguration, BVMW signed several agreements with AMDIE and GIZ, confirming a joint commitment to building economic cooperation based on trust, complementarity, and openness to the future.