Morocco Achieves Top Ranking in Business Climate
In a remarkable achievement, Morocco has emerged as the leading destination for business in Africa, as highlighted in the 2025–2026 edition of the annual barometer published by the Conseil Français des Investisseurs en Afrique (CIAN). This is the first time that Morocco has secured the top spot, achieving an impressive overall score of 3.9 out of 5. The rankings are derived from feedback provided by hundreds of executives from both foreign and domestic companies operating across the African continent. The survey evaluates a comprehensive range of 39 criteria, including infrastructure quality, tax regimes, workforce skills, and the legal environment. In this year’s rankings, Morocco outperformed Mauritius (3.4), Uganda (3.3), and both Algeria and South Africa (3.2).
The impressive ranking reflects Morocco's structural advantages, which have been acknowledged by investors over multiple survey cycles. The nation's road network, for instance, has received top ratings ranging from 4 to 5 out of 5, thanks to an extensive motorway system that efficiently connects major cities including Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir. Additionally, the Tanger Med port complex, recognized as one of the largest in Africa, plays a crucial role in supporting trade and logistics. The quality of the workforce and the favorable fiscal environment also scored within the range of 3.1 to 3.8, with business leaders praising the nation’s engineering and technical training institutions as well as recent advancements in tax digitization and procedural simplification.
Profitability and Investment Intentions for 2026
When it comes to profitability prospects for 2025, Morocco ranks fifth on the continent, trailing behind Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. This ranking underscores Morocco's position not only as a stable investment destination but also as a commercially viable one. Looking ahead to investment intentions for 2026, Morocco ranks third, with investors particularly interested in sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, defense, business process outsourcing, and digital services. The kingdom's strategic geographical position between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, along with its free trade agreements with the EU, the United States, and various African nations, serves as a significant competitive advantage.
However, the report also identifies two notable areas of concern. Investment incentives received scores ranging from 2.6 to 3.3 out of 5, with executives expressing concerns over bureaucratic complexities, slow disbursement of state support, and a lack of clarity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), despite the introduction of the 2022 Investment Charter. Similarly, import financing has received mediocre scores, with businesses citing challenges such as limited access to foreign currency, delays in documentary credit processing, and stringent collateral requirements—issues that particularly affect SMEs reliant on imported materials.
Morocco’s strong performance in the CIAN barometer places it well ahead of its Maghreb counterparts, with Algeria scoring 3.2, while Tunisia and Egypt rank lower in the comparative analysis. Despite its larger economy, South Africa struggles with negative investor perceptions due to persistent electricity shortages and security issues. To sustain its leadership position, analysts recommend two critical reforms: a radical simplification of the investment incentive framework, potentially through the establishment of an effective one-stop shop, and measures aimed at easing import financing for smaller enterprises.
As reported by northafricapost.com.
