Moroccan Head of Government Speaks with Senior Officials, Business Operators in Anhui; China's Second-Most Car-Manufacturing, -Exporting Province

06 September 2024 Printable Version

Hefei (China) - Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch on Friday held discussions in Hefei, the capital of China's Anhui province, on the sidelines of his participation in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with senior local officials and leading Chinese business operators.

During his visit to Anhui, which is considered the second largest in terms of automobile production and exports in China, Akhannouch was accompanied by the Minister of Investment, Convergence, and Policy Evaluation, Mohcine Jazouli, the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, Chakib Alj, and the Director General of the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency, Ali Seddiki.

The Head of Government was welcomed upon his arrival in Hefei by the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party for Anhui province, Liang Yanshun, in the presence of the Moroccan delegation and top Chinese industrial operators.

On this occasion, Akhannouch highlighted the excellence of political relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the People's Republic of China, which have been strengthened by the strategic partnership established in 2016 between the two countries, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as Morocco's participation in the Belt-and-Road initiative.

The Head of Government also emphasized the strong growth of Chinese investments in Morocco, particularly in the automotive sector, citing examples such as the ongoing electric battery gigafactory project in Kenitra, led by Gotion, the electric battery materials production project carried out by the CNGR and Al Mada joint venture in Jorf Lasfar, and the next-generation tire factory by Sentury.

He also mentioned the electric battery cathode production unit by the BTR group, both under construction within the Mohammed VI Tanger Tech City, in addition to Chinese investments in other sectors such as the wind turbine blade production unit adjacent to the Nador West Med port.

For his part, Liang highlighted the unprecedented interest that Chinese companies, particularly those from Anhui province, have in Morocco, driven by the Kingdom’s strategic positioning as a stable platform for competitive and decarbonized production.

With over 60 million inhabitants and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $700 billion, Anhui is experiencing one of the most dynamic economic growths in China.