Morocco's Growing Appeal for Foreign Direct Investment
In 2025, Morocco has solidified its position as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Middle East and Africa, attracting a total of 99 new investment projects. This marks a 3% increase compared to 2024, according to the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Report released by the Financial Times Group. The report highlights a significant transformation in the global investment landscape, driven largely by the rise of digital infrastructure, data centers, and semiconductor projects, amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a decline in traditional investments.
The report reveals that the Middle East and Africa region saw an increase in foreign direct investment projects from 2,737 in 2024 to 3,071 in 2025, with the total investment value rising to approximately $167 billion. Within this context, Morocco has emerged as one of the most stable and appealing economies in North Africa, leveraging its geographical advantages and a burgeoning industrial base, particularly in the automotive sector, which continues to attract substantial investment from multinational corporations.
Noteworthy among the investment projects highlighted in the report is the announcement by the multinational group Stellantis regarding the expansion of its factory in Kenitra, with an investment valued at €1.2 billion. This expansion aims to increase production capacity to 535,000 vehicles annually. Such initiatives reflect the ongoing international commitment to Morocco as a manufacturing and export hub for European and African markets, particularly within the automotive industry, which has become a cornerstone of the Moroccan economy in recent years.
Global Trends in Foreign Direct Investment
The current industrial expansion comes at a time when the world is experiencing rapid shifts in foreign direct investment patterns. The report indicates that the total number of global investment projects declined by 6.6% in 2025, settling at 16,541 projects. Concurrently, the jobs created by these projects decreased by 9.5% to approximately 2.3 million positions. Despite this downturn, the overall investment value rose by 2.2%, reaching $1.36 trillion, suggesting a global shift towards fewer but larger and more capital-intensive projects.
According to the findings, the communications and digital infrastructure sectors emerged as the most appealing for foreign capital in 2025, attracting investments worth $345.6 billion—a remarkable 88% increase compared to 2024. Additionally, the number of mega-projects exceeding $1 billion surged from 32 to 57 in just one year, including significant ventures for data centers valued at over $10 billion.
The report also emphasizes that the digital economy has become the primary driver of foreign direct investment globally, with activities related to digital infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence accounting for over 40% of total new investments in 2025. This includes rare mineral extraction, semiconductor manufacturing, software development, and massive data centers that require substantial investments in energy and infrastructure.
Geopolitical dynamics have emerged as a crucial factor in directing foreign investments, with the world entering an era of economic blocs between the American and Chinese spheres. The report indicates that countries allied with the United States captured two-thirds of global foreign investments in 2025, while the share of nations aligned with China fell to a mere 10%, down from 29% in 2016. Furthermore, strategic industries such as communications, energy, vital minerals, and defense accounted for 73.4% of total global foreign investments in 2025, a significant increase from just 48.8% in 2016, reflecting a shift towards investments linked to national security and industrial sovereignty.
For further insights, please refer to the original source of this information.As reported by lakome2.com.
