Ambassador Sayed Adil Gilani received Shaheryar Memon, focal person to the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, and his delegation at the Pakistan Embassy in Morocco ahead of their participation in the Islamic African Arab Dialogue on Democracy, Peace and Security.
During the meeting, Shaheryar Memon outlined PMYP’s activities and its vision for promoting Pakistan’s trade in the global market. The delegation and the ambassador discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation across political and economic spheres and explored practical steps to expand Pakistan Morocco trade.
Memon noted that Morocco and Pakistan enjoy strong political ties and growing economic relations, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $800 million recently and a target to exceed $1 billion through enhanced business collaboration. He highlighted that Morocco’s strategic free trade agreements make it a valuable gateway for Pakistan into African and European markets.
Trade data presented by the delegation showed Pakistan’s exports to Morocco rising from $24.85 million in 2018 to $32.06 million in 2022, while Morocco’s shipments of phosphates and fertilizers have contributed to a favourable trade balance for Morocco of around $598 million in 2021. Discussions at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce were cited as evidence of untapped potential and a need for more direct commercial links.
Key bilateral sectors currently include textiles, apparel, surgical goods and pharmaceuticals from Pakistan, and phosphoric acid, DAP fertilizers and rock phosphates from Morocco. Emerging opportunities for cooperation were identified in renewable energy projects such as solar and wind, information technology, agriculture, tourism, mining and logistics.
Memon urged Pakistani business leaders to pursue joint ventures that leverage Morocco’s FTAs with Europe, 54 African countries and Turkey, and encouraged chambers of commerce to push for MoUs, trade delegations and a Look Africa policy using Morocco as an entry point. He also pointed to Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup as an occasion to boost tourism and commercial ties and to showcase Pakistan’s football and related industries on a global stage.
