UK-Morocco Partnership: A New Era in Public Procurement
On June 5, 2024, the Moroccan Embassy in the United Kingdom hosted the "Morocco Investment Forum," marking a significant step in bilateral relations. Recently, on August 24, 2026, the UK government announced an important public consultation aimed at businesses, organizations, and citizens in preparation for negotiating a new chapter in the Association Agreement with Morocco. This future agreement is poised to be the first legally binding commitment by the UK concerning public procurement with an African nation, highlighting the strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
The public consultation, which runs from August 24 to September 11, 2026, seeks insights from businesses, professional associations, non-governmental organizations, and public sector entities regarding their experiences and priorities in public procurement. The UK government is particularly interested in identifying the challenges faced by companies eager to compete for Moroccan public contracts, as well as the sectors that should receive priority attention during future negotiations.
A Comprehensive Approach to Public Procurement
The goal of this initiative is to incorporate a dedicated chapter on public procurement into the existing Association Agreement between Morocco and the UK, which has been in effect since 2021. While the current agreement aims for a gradual and reciprocal opening of markets, it does not yet impose any substantial obligations in this area, according to official British documentation. This consultation builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2025, which was designed to enhance bilateral cooperation in public procurement. If successful, this would mark the first time the UK establishes legally binding commitments of this nature with an African country.
British interest in Morocco aligns with major investment programs anticipated in the country. The UK’s official trade promotion portal estimates that Morocco will mobilize over £50 billion in the next five to six years across various sectors, including transportation, water, hospitals, and clean energy, accelerated by the preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In 2025, bilateral trade reached £4.7 billion, a significant increase from £2.6 billion recorded in 2016. Out of this total, British exports to Morocco amounted to £2.1 billion, while imports from Morocco were valued at £2.6 billion, based on data published by the UK government. The final content of the forthcoming chapter will depend on the contributions received and subsequent negotiations, potentially establishing transparency rules, common procedures, and improved access conditions for specific public tenders, although the specific scope is yet to be defined.
As reported by es.le360.ma.
