Michaël Tanchum

FOKUS | 8/2020

Morocco‘s -to-Europe Commercial Corridor: Gatekeeper of an emerging trans-regional strategic architecture

Morocco’s West-Africa-to-Western-Europe framework of this emerging trans-regional emerging West-Africa-to-Western-Europe commercial transportation corridor is commercial architecture for years to come. commercial corridor. The November 15, redefining the geopolitical parameters of 2018 inauguration of the first segment of the global scramble for Africa and, with Morocco’s Construction of an Africa-to- the landmark high-speed line was presi- it, the strategic architecture of the Medi- Europe Corridor ded over by King Mohammed VI himself, in terranean basin. By massively expanding conjunction with French President Emma- the port capacity on its Mediterranean Situated in the northwest corner of Africa, nuel Macron.2 Seven years in construction, coast, Morocco has surpassed Spain and is fronting the Atlantic Ocean on its western the $2.3 billion line was built as a joint poised to become the dominant maritime coast and the Mediterranean Sea on its venture between ’s national railway hub in the western Mediterranean. Having northern coast, the Kingdom of Morocco company Société Nationale des Chemins constructed Africa’s first high-speed rail line, historically has been a geographical pivot de Fer Français (SNCF) and its Moroccan Morocco’s extension of the line to the Mau- for interchange between Europe, Africa, state counterpart Office National des Che- ritanian border, will transform Morocco into and the Middle East. In recent years, the mins de Fer (ONCF). Outfitted with Avelia the preeminent connectivity node in the semi-constitutional monarchy has adroitly high-speed produced nexus of commercial routes that connect combined the soft power resources of by French manufacturer , the initial West Africa to Europe and the Middle East. Morocco’s ‘triple heritage’ – Arab, African, segment of the Boraq line extends 362 km and Mediterranean – with an ambitious from Morocco’s major industrial port city While Morocco is commonly referred to modernization of its transportation and of to the country’s economic cen- as the ‘Gateway to Africa’, the country’s industrial infrastructure to remake Moroc- ter of . Taking only 2.2 hours, program of ambitious transportation and co into the hub of a new trans-regional the high-speed cuts the previous industrial infrastructure projects, initiated commercial architecture connecting Africa travel time by more than half. 3 by its visionary monarch King Mohammed to Europe and the Middle East. VI, has conferred upon Morocco the role The Boraq line is a component of Mo­ of geopolitical gatekeeper in a new global Morocco’s largest city, Casablanca, has rocco’s ambitious Plan Rail Maroc 2040 competition for the manufacturing value already become the premiere global (PRM 2040), a massive program to chains in the West-Africa-to-Western- capital node for Africa. In conjunction with mo­dernize Morocco’s railway system. Europe Corridor. As such, Morocco itself has its commercial transportation projects and Announced by King Mohammed VI in become an arena of global competition in special economic industrial zones, Mo- 2015, the PRM 2040 includes 1,500 km which China, Russia, and the Arab Gulf sta- rocco created its of additional high-speed rails links that tes are playing increasingly significant roles. (CFC) zone to attract international finan­cial have already started to form the overland firms, related professional services, and the transportation backbone of France’s Africa- Although the French-led European regional headquarters of multi-national to-Europe industrial .4 In June 2019, industrial manufacturing chain predomi- corporations. CFC is recognized as Africa’s French automobile manufacturer Groupe nates in Morocco, France remains bereft most important financial center by the PSA, Europe’s second largest automaker, of European partners willing to play a Global Financial Centers Index, which opened a manufacturing plant in Kénitra, strategic role in Morocco’s infrastructure ranks Casablanca among the index’s top north of , because of the Boraq high- development. This gap creates a potential 50 global financial centers.1 speed rail link to the new state-of-the-art for Beijing to exploit its expanding role Tanger Med port on Morocco’s Mediterra- in Morocco’s infrastructure development Morocco’s new high-speed rail and the emer- nean coast 40 km east of Tangier.5 to re-orient manufacturing value chains gence of Africa-to-Europe value chains in Morocco toward China’s Belt and Road Rabat’s highest strategic priority in its PRM Initiative. The configuration of Africa- Morocco’s construction of its al-Boraq 2040 railway development program is to to-Europe value chains that result from high-speed rail line – Africa’s first high- create a high-speed rail link from Tangier how Morocco manages its set of foreign speed rail transportation – has estab­ to Lagouira (La Güera) in the southernmost partnerships will establish the geopolitical lished Morocco’s unrivaled position in the point of the Western Sahara region, which

1 Morocco‘s Africa-to-Europe Commercial Corridor

FOKUS | 8/2020

Morocco considers its Southern Provinces.6 Morocco as a maritime hub of the Africa-to tation networks.19 On October 23rd, 2019, Running from Morocco’s Tanger Med Port Europe corridor Russian state development corporation across and down the length of the Atlantic VEB concluded a deal with Moroccan MYA coast to the Mauritanian border, the Tan- Morocco’s 2030 Strategy port plan seeks to Energy to build a petrochemical complex gier-Lagouira line will create a high-speed establish Morocco as a dominant con- and oil refinery with a target capacity of commercial transportation corridor from nectivity node in the nexus of European- 200,000 barrels per day. 20 The Russian firm the shores of the western Mediterranean African-Middle-Eastern commercial routes will locate the $2.3 billion dollar facility in to the border of West Africa. 7 that pass through the Mediterranean.13 northern Morocco and use the rail links To this end, Rabat is in the process of to the Nador Med West port to ship its A French-Moroccan joint venture, the investing upwards of $7 billion in its products. Boraq high-speed rail line is emblematic network of ports, adding a strategically of France’s traditional role as Morocco’s significant amount of container capacity Additionally, Morocco is building a $4.5 leading foreign investment partner. France on its Mediterranean coast.14 The flagship billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility provided 51 percent of the financing for project of Morocco’s effort is the Tanger at the country’s Jorf Lasfar port, located the project with Morocco providing ano- Med port15 on the country’s Mediterranean on Morocco’s Atlantic coast about 100 km ther 27 percent. The remaining 22 percent coast, approximately 40 km east of Tangier. south of Casablanca.21 The project includes of the project was financed by develop- With the opening of its new terminals in an LNG import terminal, marine jetty, gas ment funds from the United Arab Emirates late June 2019, Tanger Med became the pipeline network and a combined cycle (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.8 Along Mediterranean’s largest port, surpassing power plant with a capacity of 2,400 MW. 22 with France, the GCC nations – in particu- Spain’s Algeciras and Valencia ports in con- Already a hub for phosphate, fertilizer, and lar the UAE – have been the mainstays of tainer capacity. With the 6 million twenty- chemical production, the addition of 7 bil- foreign .9 The Boraq foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity of lion cubic meters of LNG import capacity line reflects the fact that France’s main Tanger Med 2, the Tanger Med port’s total will enable Morocco to diversify its natural partners in facilitating Morocco’s transfor- container capacity stands at 9 million TEU.16 gas supply mix. Rabat has also allocated mative infrastructure development are the $1 billion for the construction of a new UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other GCC states. The state-of-the-art Tanger Med port is also port in Dakhla in the southern region of the largest in Africa and is therefore well- the Western Sahara/Southern Provinces The EU27 collectively is Morocco’s largest positioned to become a transshipment that will augment Morocco’s commercial trade partner, accounting for 55 percent of hub for the Maersk Line and its alliance reach into West Africa as well as boost the Morocco’s 2019 total bilateral trade volu- partners.17 Setting a precedent for Groupe development of trans-Atlantic trade routes me.10 When considering states individually, PSA’s 2019 opening of a manufacturing with Latin America.23 Morocco’s five largest trading partners in plant in Kénitra, Group Renault, in 2012, lo- 2019 were: Spain (18.2%), France (15.1%), cated its second Moroccan manufacturing According to Morocco’s National Port Au- China (6.9%), the U.S. (6.2%), and Italy plant in Tangier in order to benefit from the thority, Morocco’s sea ports recorded a 6.3 (5.2%).11 Despite significant trade relations, expanded Tanger Med Port and the rail link percent increase from January 1st to April particularly in the case of Spain and Italy, to it. Within five years of opening its plant, 30th, 2020 compared to the same period France’s EU27 partners have not been Renault produced its millionth vehicle. in 2019.24 The increase in the volume of leading investors in Morocco’s infrastruc- Europe’s third largest automaker presently goods transiting Morocco during the ture development, although companies sends six trainloads of Renault vehicles outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and from the other EU member states will daily from its Tangier factory to the Tanger the resulting economic slowdown demon­ invest in opening their own production Med port for shipment. 18 strates the robustness and long-term plants in Morocco and participate in the growth potential of Morocco’s Africa-to- French-led industrial value chain. France’s Morocco’s other key Mediterranean port Europe corridor.25 principal partners for strategic economic project is the Nador Med West industrial engagement with Morocco are Abu Dhabi port complex in the Bay of Bentoya. Nador The Challenge of China in Morocco’s and Riyadh, not Madrid, Rome, or even Med West’s 1,520-meter dock is designed Africa-to-Europe Corridor Berlin. In this sense, France’s involvement to accommodate the largest container in Morocco reflects the larger pattern of its vessels. About halfway completed, the Since King Mohammed IV’s landmark May involvement in the Middle East. In Egypt $3.2 billion industrial port complex is 2016 visit to China in which the two coun- and Libya, as well as in the UAE itself, the intended to be a central energy port in tries formally signed a strategic partner- absence of EU partners has left France the western Mediterranean. Upon its 2023 ship agreement26 and over fifteen public increasingly isolated as it faces the need completion, the port will have facilities private partnership agreements,27 China to cope with Russia’s and China’s growing for tankers able to accommodate up to has been playing an increasingly pivotal presence.12 170,000 tons of oil and chemicals, and will role in Morocco’s infrastructure develop- be linked to Morocco’s new rail transpor- ment, expanding its involvement in the

2 Morocco‘s Africa-to-Europe Commercial Corridor

FOKUS | 8/2020

emerging West-Africa-to-Western-Europe the Tanger Med port was agreed upon choose to integrate into existing industrial corridor. The 2016 Morocco-China agree- during King Mohammed VI’s 2016 China manufacturing chains or choose to create ments built upon the growing economic visit.33 Financed by Haite Group, Morocco’s their own new chains. The sector that relations between Rabat and Beijing that major commercial bank BMCE, and the is establishing the pattern for industrial accelerated following the breakthrough Moroccan government, Tangier Tech City’s chain integration is Morocco’s successful 2014 Moroccan-Chinese Investment forum objective was to create an industrial and automotive industry. As Africa’s leading convened in Rabat.28 technology hub to attract 200 multinati- auto manufacturer, with a current capacity onal firms and 100 Chinese corporations to produce over 700,000 vehicles per Focusing primarily on the transportation, to open state-of-the-art manufacturing year,38 Morocco’s automotive manufactu- energy, and real estate sectors, Chinese facilities.34 Tangier Tech City constituted ring industry is the current centerpiece investments and contracts in Morocco China’s opportunity par excellence to of the country’s West-Africa-to-Western- between 2014 and 2019 inclusive totaled establish a production base in Morocco; Europe Corridor. $1.26 billion.29 In 2016, heralding the as Haite Group President Li Biao noted expansion of China’s role in Morocco’s at the project’s inauguration ceremony, Automotive sectors sales are the leading infrastructure development, the China “Morocco’s political and social stability, manufacturing component of Morocco’s Railway Bridge Engineering Group com- with an economy that is open on [sic] the export-driven economy in which foreign pleted its construction of the 950-meter, world and well-integrated in international trade accounts for approximately 88 per- cable-stayed King Mohammed VI bridge value chains and the presence of world’s cent of Morocco’s GDP.39 In early 2019, au- between Rabat and Sale, the longest industrial leaders in competitive sectors tomotive sectors sales accounted for 27.6 cable-stayed bridge in Africa. A $32.5 make the country the ideal investment percent of Morocco’s exports.40 Morocco’s million project that was funded by the environment for Chinese investors.” 35 automotive industry created nearly European Investment Bank and Morocco’s 117,000 jobs in Morocco between 2014 national road authority, the six-lane bridge Intended to be the crown jewel of Morocco’s and 2018, accounting for 28.8% percent of also stood as symbolic testament to the infrastructure development and the main job creation in the country.41 constructive potential Sino-European-Mo- engine of Morocco’s continued economic roccan cooperation.30 Later in 2016, China’s transformation, the Tangier Tech City Morocco’s present vehicle production Chint Group was selected to build 172 MW turned into a debacle for Beijing that has is led by French manufacturers Groupe of photovoltaic (PV) generati- raised questions about China’s ability to Renault and Groupe PSA, supported by ap- on capacity under the operational lead of co-exist in Morocco’s international com- proximately 200 suppliers operating in the Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power International. mercial ecosystem. Speaking about the country.42 The leading automotive sup- Named Noor Ouarzazate IV, the project difficulties with China’s Haite Group, Ilyas plier in Morocco is the American firm Lear consisted of three separate PV plants to El Omari, head of the Tangier-Tetouan- Corporation. The Fortune 500 company complement the massive concentrated Alhoceima region, explained, “There were makes automotive seating and electrical solar power facilities already built in disagreements on the ownership of the systems, and operates 11 production sites the first three development phases of city among other issues. Our partners are in Morocco.43 Other leading automotive Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, Chinese but this does not mean that the component manufacturing firms ope- the world’s largest operational solar power city belongs to Chinese [sic].” 36 Following rating in Morocco are headquartered in facility.31 The $144 million Noor Ouarzazate the Haite Group’s withdrawal from the pro- Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, IV project was financed by Germany’s state ject, the China Communications Construc- Spain, South Korea, and India.44 development bank KfW and the Moroccan tion Company (CCCC) and its subsidiary, Agency for .32 Similar to the the China Road and Bridge Corporation, Some Chinese manufacturers are using King Mohammed VI Bridge, the Noor Ou- have taken on the construction of a scaled the opportunity of Groupe PSA’s new arzazate IV project exemplified a construc- down version of the industrial and techno- car manufacturing plant in Kénitra to tive commercial synergy among partners logy zone. Officially designated as the first integrate into the French-led European from China, the Arab Gulf states, Europe development phase, CCCC is building only value chain. Following Groupe PSA’s June and Morocco. 7 sq. km of the originally planned 20 sq. 2019 announcement of its intention to km zone. CCCC began construction on the build the plant, Chinese manufacturer Building upon its project successes in Mo- project despite the fact that unresolved Nanjing Xiezhong announced it would rocco up to that point in time, Beijing was issues over ownership remained between construct a $15 million facility in Kénitra’s poised to assume a preeminent role in the CCCC and Morocco.37 automotive manufacturing zone to supply development of Morocco’s Africa-to-Euro- air conditioners to Groupe PSA.45 Similarly, pe commercial corridor with China’s Haite The future nature of Morocco’s West- China’s CITIC Dicastal, the world’s largest Group’s construction of the Mohammed VI Africa-to-Western-Europe Commercial producer of automotive aluminum wheels, Tangier Tech City. The $10 billion hi-tech corridor will be determined by the extent announced that it would open a plant in industrial zone project located 20 km from and manner to which foreign companies Kénitra. A global leader in the manufacture

3 Morocco‘s Africa-to-Europe Commercial Corridor

FOKUS | 8/2020

of lightweight aluminum cast components high speed rail connectivity to Morocco’s region will set the geopolitical framework for automotive powertrain, chassis and southern regions.48 for participation in Morocco’s West-Africa- body systems, CITIC Dicastal’s $400 million to-Western-Europe commercial corridor. plant in Kénitra will have the capacity to Morocco is the largest recipient of French produce 6 million pieces annually to sup- foreign aid. Moreover, Morocco’s security Prof. Michaël Tanchum is a senior associate ply parts to the PSA Groupe. is intimately bound to its deep military fellow at the Austrian Institute for European relationships with France and the United and Security Studies (AIES) and teaches For Chinese companies like CITIC Dicastal, States. Rabat views these relationships international relations of the Middle East at their manufacturing plants in Morocco are as essential components of its strategy the University of Navarra, Spain. He is also a their first in Africa. The European experi- to cope with the threat posed by global fellow at the Truman Research Institute for ence of most Chinese companies derives jihadist movements as well as Morocco’s the Advancement of Peace, the Hebrew Uni- from their interaction with German firms. perennial security concern stemming from versity, Israel, and at the Centre for Strategic Morocco’s emerging industries primarily its disputes with Algeria and the latter’s Policy Implementation at Başkent University participate in the French industrial system. support of the Polisario Front. In 2019, in Ankara, Turkey. The ability of CITIC Dicastal and the other Morocco was the United States’ largest Chinese companies to develop African arms purchaser in the Middle East and operations through integrating into the , the total package of advance Endnotes French-led value chain through Groupe weapons amounting to approximately PSA is facilitated by the Groupe PSA’s joint- $10.3 billion.49 1) N.A., The Global Financial Centres Index, 27 March 2020 https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_27_Full_ venture relationship with leading Chinese Report_2020.03.26_v1.1_.pdf automaker Dongfeng Motor Company. Morocco’s desire to diversify its strategic 2) N.A., “Africa’s first high speed line inaugurated”, Railway Gazette, 16 November 2018, https://www.railwaygazette.com/ relationships has prompted Rabat’s signi- news/news/africa/single-view/view/-first-high-speed- At the same time that China’s firms are ficant openings toward China and Russia. line-inaugurated.html showing some success at integration, A rapprochement between Morocco and 3) N.A.,“Morocco launches Africa’s first high-speed train”, The In- dependent, 3 December 2018, https://www.independent.co.ug/ China also has an opportunity to set-up its Russia has been slowly and cautiously ta- morocco-launches-africas-first-high-speed-train/ own industrial chain as Morocco attempts king place since King Mohammed VI’s 2016 4) David Burroughs, “Tangier – Kénitra line meets expectations”, International Railway Journal,30 November 2019 to attract two more automakers to the visit to Moscow. The resulting 2017 econo- https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/tangier-kenitra-line kingdom in order to reach Rabat’s 2025 mic and military partnership agreements 5) Kawtar Ennaji, “PSA Plant Officially Opens”, Morocco World News, 20 June2019, https://www.moroccoworldnews. goal of producing one million cars per signed by Moscow and Rabat have resul- com/2019/06/276284/psa-kenitra-plant-officially/ year. In December 2017, China’s electrical ted in Russian investments in Morocco, 6) Lahcen Mokena, “Morocco’s King Places Railway Project at Top vehicle manufacturer BYD inked a deal particularly in the energy sector, but little of Priorities”, Asharq Al-Awsat, 8 November 2019, https://english. aawsat.com//home/article/1982166/morocco’s-king-places- to build a 2,500-person plant to become security cooperation. Russia is Algeria’s railway-project-top-priorities Morocco’s third automaker.46 Designa- largest arms supplier and until Moscow 7) N.A.“Morocco’s 2040 Rail Strategy”, ONCF, n.d., https://www. .ma/en/Development/Strategy/Morroco-s-2040-rail- ted for the troubled Tangier Tech City, chooses to use its leverage in to act strategy the project’s implementation has been more as a bridge between Algeria and Mo- 8) Lahssen Moqana, “Moroccan King, French President Inaugu- bogged down with delays to the conster- rocco, its influence in Morocco is likely to rate Al Boraq High Speed Train”, Asharq Al-Awsat, 16 November 2018, https://english.aawsat.com//home/article/1465551/ 47 nation Moroccan officials. remain secondary. Nonetheless, a China- moroccan-king-french-president-inaugurate-al-boraq-high- Russia synergy has the potential to emerge speed-train 9) An analysis of GCC investments in Morocco is the topic of a The Strategic Contours of Morocco’s in Morocco as an alternate framework for separate forthcoming report by the author. Africa-to-Europe Corridor commercial relations. The extent to which 10) N.A., “, Trade with Morocco”, European Commission: Directorate General for Trade. https://webgate. this potential will be actualized will also be ec.europa.eu/isdb_results/factsheets/country/details_moroc- The advance of Chinese manufacturing dependent on China’s and Russia’s respec- co_en.pdf enterprises in Morocco will require most tive relationships with the Arab Gulf states. 11) The percentages express the share of Morocco’s total bilateral trade calculated by the author using trade data from of them to integrate with the French- the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission led European value chain. With France’s To the extent there is an absence of stra- (See previous note), using the USD/EUR exchange rate on 30 December 2019. International Monetary Fund: Access to mac- wariness of an over-reliance on China in its tegic coordination in Morocco between roeconomic & financial data. DOTS. Morocco. supply-chains increasing in the aftermath France and the other members of the https://data.imf.org/?sk=9D6028D4-F14A-464C-A2F2- of the COVID-19 outbreak, it remains 59B2CD424B85&sId=1515619375491 EU27, Morocco’s Africa-to-Europe corridor 12) See Michaël Tanchum, “ The Middle East‘s Year of the unclear how well Chinese firms will be will increasingly depend on the strategic Dragonbear: The 2020 emergence of a Sino-Russian strategic able to accomplish that integration. The relationship between France and its Arab architecture bridging Iran and its Arab Gulf Rivals”, Fokus, Aust- rianInstittue for European and Security Policy (AIES), December situation is further complicated by China’s Gulf partners. So long as France remains 2019, https://www.aies.at/publikationen/2019/fokus-19-12.php efforts to underbid France for strategic a principal security guarantor in West 13) Max Schwerdtfeger, “PTI Insight: Morocco’s maritime master plan”, Port Technology, 8 April 2020, https://www.porttechnolo- infrastructure projects, most notably the Africa, the confluence of strategic interests gy.org/news/pti-insight-moroccos-maritime-master-plan/ Marrakech-Agadir high speed rail link among Rabat, Paris, Abu Dhabi, and 14) Max Schwerdtfeger, “PTI Insight: Morocco’s maritime master project that is the linchpin for extending Riyadh as relates to the Maghreb/Sahel plan”, Port Technology. 15) Tanger Med Special Agency, Tanger Med, https://www.

4 Morocco‘s Africa-to-Europe Commercial Corridor

FOKUS | 8/2020

tangermed.ma/en/tanger-med-2-poursuite-de-dynamique- 35) N.A., “Morocco, China agree on financing for $10 billion tech engagee/ city”, The Arab Weekly. 16) Tanger Med Special Agency, Tanger Med. 36) Linus Kemboi, “Morocco begins construction of new tech 17) George Lauriat, “Mediterranean Sea – Ports in the Middle”, city in Tangier”, Construction Review Online, 9 July 2019, https:// American Journal of Transportation, https://ajot.com/premium/ constructionreviewonline.com/2019/07/morocco-begins-const- ajot-mediterranean-sea-ports-in-the-middle#:~:text=With%20 ruction-of-new-tech-city-in-tangier/ the%20June%20opening%20of,Line%20and%20its%20alli- 37) Ahmed Eljechtimi and Ulf Lessing , “Morocco hopes to attract ance%20partners. $10 billion in investment to new tech city”, Reuters, 2 July, 2019, 18) El Mehdi Berrada, “Morocco now has the largest capacity for https://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-china/morocco- shipping containers in the Mediterranean”, The Africa Report, 7 hopes-to-attract-10-billion-in-investment-to-new-tech-city- August 2019, https://www.theafricareport.com/16021/tanger- idUSKCN1TW3UF meds-rachid-houari-says-morocco-offers-the-largest-capacity- 38) N.A., “Morocco attracts automotive manufacturers and for-shipping-containers-in-the-mediterranean/ suppliers,” Business Group, https://oxfordbusinessgroup. 19) Nador West Med SA, Nador West Med, http://www.nador- com/analysis/driver%E2%80%99s-seat-automotive-manufactur- westmed.ma/fr/accueil ers-and-suppliers-flock-kingdom 20) Kasraoui, Safaa, “Morocco Secures Deal with Russian 39) N.A., “ COUNTRY RISK OF MOROCCO : INTERNATIONAL Development Bank to Build Oil Refinery”, Morocco World TRADE”, Societe Generale, June 2020, News, 24 October, 2019, https://www.moroccoworldnews. https://import-export.societegenerale.fr/en/country/morocco/ com/2019/10/285222/morocco-deal-russia-veb-mya-energy- trade-country-risk#:~:text=Morocco’s%20main%20trade%20 oil-refinery/ partners%20are,the%20United%20States%20and%20Italy. 21) MEED, “ Morocco LNG tender worth $4.5bn expected to 40) N.A., “ COUNTRY RISK OF MOROCCO : INTERNATIONAL be floated before 2020”, Hydrocarbons Technology, 19 April TRADE”, Societe Generale. 2019, https://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/comment/ 41) N.A., “Morocco attracts automotive manufacturers and morocco-lng/ suppliers,” Oxford Business Group. 22) MEED, “ Morocco LNG tender worth $4.5bn expected to be 42) N.A., “Morocco attracts automotive manufacturers and floated before 2020”, Hydrocarbons Technology. suppliers,” Oxford Business Group. 23) N.A. “Morocco to build leisure port in Saharan city of Dakhla”, 43) Karim Ahniche, “Morocco; The Leading car manufacturer in The North Africa Post, 25 February, 2020, https://northafrica- Africa,” AIMS International, n.d., https://aimsinternational.com/ post.com/38409-morocco-to-build-leisure-port-in-saharan-city- en/2019/03/morocco-the-leading-car-manufacturer-in-africa/ of-dakhla.html 44) Companies include:Yazaki Sumitomo Leoni (Germany) Den- 24) Yahia Hatim, “Morocco’s Port Activity Increases by 6.3% in so (Japan) Kromberg and Schubert (Germany) TE Connectivity First Four Months of 2020”, Morocco World News, 5 May, 2020, (Switzerland) Valeo (France) Faurecia (France) Daedong (South 2020https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/05/301628/ Korea) Magnetti Marelli (Italy) COMSA EMTE (Spain) Deltrian -port-activity-increases-by-6-3-in-first-four-months- (Belgium) Parker (U.S.) Clarton Horn (Spain) Inergy Automotive of-2020/ System (France), Varroc Lighting System (India) JTKET (Japan), 25) Dues to space limitations, Morocco’s significant efforts to Processos industriales Del Sur (Spain) established itself as a regional air hub are not considered in this 45) N.A., “Morocco attracts automotive manufacturers and report. suppliers,” Oxford Business Group, https://oxfordbusinessgroup. -com/analysis/driver%E2%80%99s-seat-automotive-manufactur יN.A., “La Chine et le Maroc ‘tablissent un partenariat strat (26 gique”, [‘China and Morocco establish a strategic partnership’], ers-and-suppliers-flock-kingdom Xinhua 11 May 2016, 46) Douglas A. Bolduc, “ China’s BYD plans EV plant in Morocco”, http://french.xinhuanet.com/2016-05/11/c_135351719.htm Automotive News Europe, 9 December 2017 https://europe. 27) N.A.”Morocco, China Strengthen Business Ties During King autonews.com/article/20171209/ANE/171209787/china-s-byd- Mohammed VI’s Historic Visit to plans-ev-plant-in-morocco ,ne” [BYDמBeijing”, Globe News Wire,13 May 2016, https://www.globe- 47) Ali Abjiou, “BYD, le dossier du 3e constructeur tra newswire.com/news-release/2016/05/13/1306626/0/en/Moroc- the third manufacturer’s file is lagging behind], L‘Economiste, co-China-Strengthen-Business-Ties-During-King-Mohammed- 26 September 2019, https://www.leconomiste.com/ VI-s -Historic-Visit-to-Beijing.html article/1050794-byd-le-dossier-du-3e-constructeur-traine 28) Abderrahim Azara, “Morocco welcomes 80 Chinese Investors 48) Austin Patterson, “High-Speed Battle: France, China before the potential King’s visit to china”, The Moroccan Times, Fight to Build New Train Line in Morocco”, Morocco World 30 March 2014, http://themoroccantimes.com/2014/03/2688/ News, 22 February, 2020, https://www.moroccoworldnews. morocco-welcomes-80-chinese-investors-before-the-potential- com/2020/02/294277/high-speed-battle-france-china-fight-to- kings-visit-to-china build-new-train-line-in-morocco/ 29) N.A., “China Global Investment Tracker”, American Enterprise 49) Saad Gerraoui,” Arms race between Morocco and Algeria in- Institute, 2020, https://www.aei.org/china-global-investment- tensifies”, The Arab Weekly, 5 January 2020, https://thearabweek- tracker/ ly.com/arms-race-between-morocco-and-algeria-intensifies 30) Saad Guerraoui, “Rabat´s cable-stayed bridge to have a big Effect on Morocco”, The Arab Weekly, 31 July 2016, https:// thearabweekly.com/rabats-cable-stayed-bridge-have-big-effect- © Austria Institut für Europa- morocco[17/06/2020] und Sicherheitspolitik, 2020 31) Moncef Ben Hayoun, “ Énergie solaire - Le Maroc met en service la plus grande centrale multitechnologique au monde”, [Solar energy – Morocco commissions the world’s largest multi- Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Nachdruck oder ver­ technology power plant], Le Matin, 30 December 2018,[https:// gleich­bare Verwendungen von Arbeiten des lematin.ma/journal/2018/maroc-met-service-plus-grande- Austria Instituts für Europa- und Sicherheitspolitik centrale-multitechnologique-monde/307719.html; Chinese (AIES) sind auch in Auszügen nur mit vorheriger companies were also involved in the CSP component of the Genehmigung gestattet. Die im AIES-Fokus project. note China’s ChinaPower involved in CSP part veröffentlichten Beiträge geben ausschließlich die 32) Bloomberg News Editors, “Saudis, Chinese Team Up to Build Meinung der jeweiligen Autorinnen und Autoren 170 MW of ”, World, wieder. 22 November 2016, https://www.renewableenergyworld. com/2016/11/22/saudis-chinese-team-up-to-build-170mw-of- Dr. Langweg 3, 2410 Hainburg/Donau solar-power-in-morocco/#gref Tel. +43 (1) 3583080 33) N.A.”Morocco, China Strengthen Business Ties During King E-Mail: [email protected] Mohammed VI’s Historic Visit to Beijing”, Globe News Wire. Website: www.aies.at 34) N.A., “Morocco, China agree on financing for $10 billion tech city”, The Arab Weekly, 26/03/2017 https://thearabweekly.com/ Layout: Medienbüro Meyer morocco-china-agree-financing-10-billion-tech-city

5