LIFTEXPO Morocco was held in Casablanca
Morocco, the 59th largest economy in the world and described as a politically stable and business- friendly country in business circles, hosted the lift sector with LiftExpo Morocoo.
Held at the CICEC Exhibition Centre in Casablanca on 12-14 May 2023, LiftExpo Morocco hosted exhibitors from many countries, especially Turkey, and visitors from Morocco, Morocco and surrounding countries, Spain, France and Italy. Opening its doors with 72 exhibitors, LiftExpo Morocco showcased new technologies, products and services in the lift industry. Offering an important opportunity for manufacturers, suppliers, engineers and other interested parties to follow the developments in the sector, establish business contacts and develop collaborations, LiftExpo Morocco was touted as the gateway to Morocco and North Africa lift sector.
LiftExpo Morocoo from Turkey; Akış Motor, Akra Elevator, Alyans Elevator, Asiller Elevator, Aterya Elevator, Avelice Elevator, Aybey Elektronik, Butkon, Dehir Elevator, Demas Elevator, Dörtlü Elevator, Efelift Home Lift, Ekay Elevator, Elit Lift Elevator, Eren Makina, Erkan Lift, First Lift, Genemek, Hüras Elevator, İleri Buton, İntegra, İtimat Asansör, Kepi Elevator System, KMT Lift, Konel Elektronik, Lift Up Elevator, Löher Escalator, Önersan, Onuras Asnasör, Ovit Asansör, Özbay Asansör, Özbeşler Asansör, Özinan Asansör, Prolift Elevator, RPM, Selkas Asansör, Sultan Asansör, Tabled Paslanmaz, Teknomak Asansör, Thisa Elevator, Türkray, Upset Elektronik, Usta Energy, Verno Group and Zorer Elevator participated.
The fact that LiftExpo Morocco was held in Casablanca, known as the financial city of Morocco, also provided an advantage to the participants. Casablanca, where various supports are offered to international companies wishing to invest in Morocco, is becoming more and more recognised thanks to its ease of doing business. Morocco, which is the leader among North African countries with its 53rd position in the World Bank "Ease of Doing Business" index, is the best investment target in Africa according to the African Investment Index.
With a population of 36.3 million, Morocco is the 37th most populous country in the world. According to World Bank data, the labour force participation rate is 39% and the unemployment rate is 11.1% in 2022. 44% of the labour force is employed in the services sector and 23% in the industrial sector. Morocco's GDP in 2022 is USD 142.87 billion at current prices. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, the Moroccan economy, which grew by 7.2% annually in real terms in 2022, is expected to grow by 2.1% in 2023.
According to World Trade Centre (ITC) data, Morocco exported a total of 36.5 billion dollars and imported 58.6 billion dollars in 2022. With a current account deficit of $ 22 billion in 2022, Morocco is the 19th country with the highest current account deficit in the world. It has established its closest commercial relations with Spain, France and Italy through maritime trade. According to the United Nations (UN) Comtrade data; Turkey exported 2.98 billion dollars to Morocco in 2021, while importing 922.4 million dollars from Morocco. Morocco, where our bilateral trade size reached 3.9 billion dollars, is our 28th largest trade partner.
Moroccan lift sector and Turkey
Morocco is a country that meets its lift needs with imports. In 2022, Morocco imported 79 million 816 thousand dollars worth of elevators and exported 2 million 710 thousand dollars worth of elevators. In terms of lift components, the country's lift component exports were worth 3 million 973 thousand dollars against imports of 70 million 637 thousand dollars.
Turkey's foreign trade in complete lifts and components with Morocco
In 2022, the Turkish elevator sector obtained a total value of 1 million 929 thousand 110 dollars from 606 thousand 809 kilograms of package elevator exports to Morocco. Again in 2022, the sector's component exports to Morocco in the amount of 2 million 446 thousand 874 kilograms recorded a value of 6 million 352 thousand 588 dollars in the sector's foreign trade household. The total foreign trade of the Turkish elevator sector to Morocco reached 8 million 281 thousand 698 dollars. In 2022, neither complete lift systems nor lift components were imported from Morocco.
According to the information given by Burcu Özergül Çolak, Commercial Counsellor of Rabat Embassy; Morocco's total package elevator imports constitute 0.2 percent of world imports. Turkey's share in Morocco's imports is 8.4 percent. Spain has the lion's share in Morocco's elevator imports with 45 percent. Spain is followed by China, France and Turkey.
In component imports, Morocco's total component imports account for 0.1 per cent of world imports. Turkey ranks 6th in component imports after the USA, Spain, Italy, China and Germany.
There are more than 30 companies operating in the lift sector in Morocco, most of which are engaged in import and installation works. The main companies are DEMSAN Elevator, OPIS Elevator, OTIS Elevator, Hala Systems, KZ Elevator, ALTO Lift, ISAO SARL, Nuova Lift, Maghreb Elevator.
Burcu Özergül Çolak, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Rabat, noted the lack of technology infrastructure, the lack of qualified personnel and the inefficiency of the sector's non-governmental organisations as the main problems of the sector. According to the information given by Burcu
Özergül Çolak, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Rabat, 75 projects worth 4.16 billion dollars have been undertaken and completed by Turkish contractors in Morocco. The main Turkish contracting companies operating in the country are Makyol, Nurol, Doğuş Construction, Rönesans Holding, Tekfen Construction, STFA, Yapı Merkezi, Mapa Construction.
Benefits-Risks
Burcu Özer Gül Çolak, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Rabat, shared the advantageous and risky situations to be encountered while doing business in Morocco as follows:
Advantages
- Political stability.
- Logistical advantages, strategic location, access to West Africa.
- Economic growth, facilities provided to foreign capital.
- Increase in purchasing power.
- Rapid development of industry
- Relatively transparent procurement system
- Continuation of structural reforms
- Banking system
- Positive perception of Turkey
- No requirement for a local partner in the establishment of a company
Disadvantages
- Uncertainty over residence and work permits
- The 15 per cent price advantage provided to domestic companies in some tenders
- Authorisation process for money transfers
- High cost of profit transfer
- Payment and receivable problems
- Slowness in bureaucracy
- Unlawful decisions encountered from time to time.