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Türkiye and Morocco have agreed to step up their cooperation in an effort to expand bilateral trade and address ongoing imbalances stemming from textile imports, officials announced following a joint committee meeting held in Ankara.
Speaking after the Türkiye-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee meeting on Monday, Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu emphasized that both countries had reached a consensus to elevate their trade volume beyond the current level of $5 billion, guided by the principle of “win-win cooperation.”
Tuzcu underlined that the FTA forms the foundation of economic ties between the two nations, pointing to the increasingly active role Turkish firms are playing in Morocco’s investment landscape. “Our companies are becoming stronger actors in Morocco’s improving investment environment,” he noted.
According to Tuzcu, Turkish investments in Morocco now exceed $1 billion, with contractors having completed infrastructure projects worth $4.3 billion to date. He added that Turkish firms are also set to contribute to Morocco’s infrastructure and superstructure projects related to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The announcement follows Morocco’s ongoing review of its trade arrangement with Türkiye, prompted by a trade deficit that has reached around $3 billion according to Morocco's official trade data. This imbalance has been driven primarily by textile imports, with Moroccan manufacturers heavily reliant on Turkish fabric.
The trade deal between the two countries, which came into force in 2006, was revised five years ago due to pressure from Morocco’s domestic industry. At that time, the government imposed a 90% tariff on Turkish textile and clothing products to safeguard local producers and preserve jobs.
Despite the measure, Moroccan companies continue to import Turkish textiles due to limited local production.
Tuzcu stated that both sides have agreed to transform the dialogue into a permanent mechanism through closer coordination between joint committees. “We’ve reached a consensus on converting this dialogue into a structured platform,” he said, adding that these efforts would also support Turkish companies looking to expand further in Morocco.
He also confirmed that the joint declaration signed during the meeting reflects all aspects of the renewed collaboration, including planned initiatives to strengthen Türkiye’s presence in Morocco’s evolving investment climate.
Omer Hjira, Morocco’s Deputy Minister in charge of Foreign Trade, echoed Tuzcu’s sentiments, describing the current trade levels as positive but in need of further development. “Our aim is to bring these figures to a higher level,” he said.
Hjira stressed that Morocco sees itself as a land of opportunity for Turkish investors. “Our wish is to increase Morocco’s exports to Türkiye, while encouraging more Turkish investment in our country,” he said, reiterating that all efforts would be grounded in mutual gain.
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