In an interview with MAP following a recent visit to Morocco with a delegation of Irish business leaders, Corbett explained that the mission aimed to lay the groundwork for ambitious cooperation between two dynamic business centers: Casablanca Finance City (CFC) and Sandyford Business District, located in the south of Dublin.

This visit, he said, revealed strong alignment between Morocco’s and Ireland’s economic visions, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CFC and SBD.

Corbett praised Morocco’s impressive investment in infrastructure, innovation, and education, noting a “clear long-term vision” that extends far beyond major upcoming events like the 2030 World Cup.

He also emphasized the strategic rise of Casablanca Finance City as a financial hub with growing influence across Africa and beyond. “CFC is on track to become a global player,” Corbett said, adding that its leadership brings both profound experience and strong strategic insight.

Although Sandyford and Casablanca are at different stages of development, Corbett highlighted their complementary paths, especially in areas like investment promotion and ecosystem growth, where both can learn from each other.

Asked about the most promising sectors for Morocco-Ireland cooperation, he pointed to FinTech—particularly following Moroccan group HPS’s acquisition of Irish firm CR2—as well as IT, smart cities, AgriTech, manufacturing, construction, and tourism.

Education was a major theme in the talks, especially involving the International University of Rabat (UIR), considered a key partner in expanding the Erasmus program to Moroccan students. Corbett also praised Morocco’s high proficiency in mathematics and its bilingualism in French and English—valuable assets for academic and business partnerships.

He noted that beyond the Moroccan market, the Kingdom’s gateway position to Africa is drawing growing interest from investors. With its strategic location and a strong pipeline of young talent—at a time when Europe faces demographic challenges—“Morocco has a lot to offer Irish business,” he stressed.

To unlock this potential, Corbett called for "telling Morocco’s story to a wider audience," urging institutions like CFC and AMDIE to organize a roadshow in Ireland to showcase the concrete opportunities Morocco presents to local companies.

With over 1,000 companies and 26,000 professionals, Sandyford Business District is one of Ireland's economic engines, specializing in technology, finance, and innovation.