The National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Embassy of Morocco in the United States Embassy of Tunisia in the United States Embassy of the United States in Morocco Embassy of the United States in Tunisia Present a Trade & Investment Mission to Morocco and Tunisia April 10-16, 2016 • Participate in the 3rd Morocco - U.S. Business Development Conference in Rabat, Morocco • Meet and network with business leaders, innovators, investors, and senior government officials in Morocco and Tunisia • Visit the Tangier Automotive City or the Noor Solar Power Station Trade & Investment Mission to Morocco and Tunisia Itinerary Sunday, April 10 Arrival in Morocco. Monday, April 11 Networking opportunities, business meetings, and briefings in Rabat. Opening dinner for the conference. Tuesday, April 12 Participate in the 3rd Morocco-U.S. Business Development Conference and develop partnerships with Moroccan business leaders. Wednesday, April 13 Site visits to the Automotive City in Tangier or the Noor Solar Power Station in Ouarzazate. Thursday, April 14 Travel to Tunis. Meet with Tunisian business leaders. Friday, April 15 Networking opportunities, commercial meetings, and briefings in Tunis by business leaders and senior government officials. Saturday, April 16 Depart Tunis. End of mission. Registration Fee: $2,500 Registration Fee Covers: Senior government meetings, executive-level business networking opportunities, site visits to leading companies, in-country ground transportation, and some meals. NOT included in the registration fee: airfares, hotel stays, some meals, sightseeing packages or personal expenses. Please Note: U.S. passport holders traveling to Tunisia and Morocco do not require visas. Register Today! For more information, please contact Nazha Benchaln at the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce by telephone at (202) 289-5920 or via email at [email protected]. Kingdom of Morocco The International Finance Corporation recognizes company registration, thereby reducing red-tape Morocco as a top market reformer in the Middle and lowering the cost of starting a business. East and North Africa. The nation has emerged Morocco has invested heavily in sectors that as a commercial hub as a result of its economic strengthen that nation comparatively and compet- reforms, investment incentives, competitive costs itively. These sectors include agriculture, fisheries, of production, modern banking processes, strong mining, renewable energy, logistics, automotive, laws to protect intellectual property, and proxim- and aerospace. ity to major markets. Morocco, as one of the largest energy importers in Morocco has a Free Trade Agreement with the the region, is trying to reduce its dependence on United States and an Association Agreement with imported fossil fuels. One of its most ambitious the European Union (EU). These agreements efforts is the Noor Solar Power Station, an inte- attract traders looking to enter Morocco, the grated development project intended to increase world’s largest markets (such as the EU and the the role of solar energy in total electricity capacity United States), and the world’s fastest growing as well as prevent the mass emissions of CO per markets (e.g., Africa). The U.S. – Morocco Free 2 year. Trade Agreement entered into force in January 2006, eliminating duties on more than 95 percent Morocco has also become an important hub of all goods and services, and U.S. exports have for Africa’s automotive industry. Its geographic grown dramatically since then. location and state-of-the-art ports make it an ideal location for car manufacturing plants, and With an annual Gross Domestic Product growth Morocco’s stable political and economic condi- rate of nearly five percent over the past five years, tions make it a favorable platform for major Morocco’s recent economic history is one of automakers. macroeconomic stability and low inflation, despite the challenges of the Arab Spring. In the World Morocco is conveniently located for investors who Bank’s 2015 Doing Business report, Morocco’s are interested in exporting to Europe and Africa. rating improved to 71st in the world. Morever, the availability of skilled and compet- itive labor at lower costs, relative to Europe, is a To attract more foreign investors and to stream- key factor in attracting automakers to Morocco. line the registration process, Morocco recently These automakers are also eligible for tax exemp- set up 16 regional investment centers to facilitate tions for 25 years, provided that most of the production is destined for export. Republic of Tunisia Tunisia boasts one of the best educated and in U.S. funding, seeks to further develop the most literate populations in the Middle East and economy of Tunisia and to promote employment. North Africa. That international sophistication, Tunisian government investment incentives have coupled with the fact that Tunisia has been a drawn U.S. investors to such export-oriented constitutional republic for six decades, helps sectors as call centers, electronics, aeronautics, to explain that nation’s deep commitment to and automotive parts manufacturing. In 2015, transitioning successfully from an autocracy to U.S. exports to Tunisia were $560 million. a promising democracy. Creating productive jobs for youth is one of Over the years, Tunisia maintained one of the Tunisia’s highest priorities, and the promotion highest per-capita GDPs in Africa and the Middle of entrepreneurship is key to meeting that chal- East, and the World Economic Forum has histor- lenge. There are some 260,000 unemployed ically ranked Tunisia as one of the most compet- graduates in Tunisia today, and 60,000 new itive economies in Africa. Investors find Tunisia graduates each year need employment. attractive due in part to the nation’s relatively Solar power has been developing for years in low-cost, yet highly skilled labor, as well as Tuni- Tunisia. The TuNur project, which began in sia’s access to the European Union (EU), Middle 2011, is designed to be a solar power exporting East, and African markets. plant to provide Europe with solar power. The Trade has served as the lifeblood of Tunisia since Tunisian Solar Program is a joint initiative of the days of Carthage. Tunisia was the first Medi- UNEP, Tunisia’s National Agency for Energy terranean nation to sign an Association Agree- Conservation, its state-utility STEG, and Italy’s ment with the EU, which is responsible for more Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea. It was than 75 percent of Tunisia’s imports and exports. launched in 2005 to promote the development of the solar energy sector. Despite this heavy dependence on European trading partners, Tunisia has expressed a strong The automotive industry, and particularly the desire to enhance its trade and investment ties to manufacture of automotive components, is a large the United States. economic sector in Tunisia. The Government of Tunisia offers fully integrated sites, complete with U.S. foreign assistance levels for fiscal year 2016 logistics, industrial, and infrastructure support, to have increased significantly, reflecting strong companies starting manufacturing operations as bipartisan support for Tunisian economic devel- a way to bring in more investment. Labor costs opment, security, and democracy. The Tuni- at these sites are substantially lower than those in sian-American Enterprise Fund, with $60 million the EU and the United States..