RABAT – Mexico opened a trade office on Thursday in Casablanca that is its first in Africa, saying it will serve as a bridge for trade and investment opportunities on that continent.The director-general of trade and investment promotion agency ProMexico, Francisco Gonzalez; and Mexico’s deputy foreign secretary, Carlos de Icaza, were on hand for the ceremony, Mexican diplomatic officials told Efe.
Morocco was represented by its deputy foreign secretary, Mbarka Bouaida; and the secretary-general of the Foreign Trade Ministry, Mohammed Benayad.
Mexico will share the new office, located in Kenzi Tower, with Peru, Chile and Colombia.
Morocco was chosen because of its political stability, its sustained development and its strategic location as a bridge to Europe, Mexico’s ambassador to that North African country, Andres Ordoñez, said.
Mexico also is looking to expand its diplomatic ties with Africa and the Arab world with its plans to open embassies in Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Jordan and Kuwait in the near future.
In addition to promoting expanded trade, the Casablanca office also could help Mexican companies – particularly in construction and agroindustry – establish operations in Morocco, a low-cost gateway to Europe, Ordoñez said.
In that regard, a Mexican trade delegation representing those two sectors is currently visiting Morocco and will meet with business leaders and officials in the foreign trade and investment area.
The delegation will include representatives of four leading Mexican companies: Cemex and Tamsa (construction) and Bimbo and Gruma (food-processing), who will get a first-hand look at the opportunities Morocco offers.
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