On March 26 and 27, 2007, potential investors in Morocco’s burgeoning automotive parts and components sector attended a two-day mission in Casablanca and the Tangiers Free Zone. Morocco’s exports of low-cost parts increased on average more than 21 percent per year from 2000 to 2004, proof of the country’s growing attractiveness for foreign manufacturers.

Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and USAID, the mission began in Casablanca, where investors were informed about Morocco’s growth plans for the automobile parts sector and investment incentives, learned why the country is the most efficient platform for parts destined for European assembly lines, and visited the SOMACA factory production line for the Renault Logan. On the second day, investors toured parts factories in the Tangiers Free Zone and spoke directly with representatives of Morocco’s Transport Authority about the country’s export infrastructure.

Speakers included U.S. Ambassador Thomas Riley, Secretary General Bousslham Hilia of Morocco’s Ministry of Industry, industry representatives, and manufacturers with operations in Morocco. A U.S. Embassy spokesman passed on praise for the fortuitous timing of the conference from one industry representative who “had been planning to come to Morocco for quite some time, but couldn’t decide who to see and how to go about getting all the information he needed. He was very appreciative that our conference came along when it did.”

Nathan Associates organized and publicized the international investment mission under the auspices of the USAID-sponsored New Business Opportunities (NBO) program. .