HIBAPRESS
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, highlighted on Wednesday the qualitative progress made in cooperation between Spain and Morocco, stressing that bilateral relations are going through "the best moment in their history."
In a speech before the House of Representatives devoted to foreign policy, the Minister explained that the two countries are making continuous progress in several strategic areas, particularly security, mobility and migration management, in addition to economic, commercial and cultural sectors.
The head of Spanish diplomacy also highlighted the record-breaking trade exchange that exceeded 22 billion euros in 2024, an increase of nearly 10 percent compared to the previous year, noting that the first nine months of 2025 have already reached 17 billion euros.
In this context, he mentioned that Spain remains the first trading partner for Morocco, while Morocco represents the first African destination for Spanish exports and the third global market for Spanish companies.
Albares pointed out that more than 5,000 Spanish companies regularly export to Morocco, while 1,400 companies import from the Kingdom, creating thousands of jobs.
He added that Spanish investments in Morocco have now exceeded 2.3 billion euros, making the Kingdom the first African destination for Spanish capital, with the creation of more than 25,000 jobs.
The Minister also highlighted bilateral cooperation in the field of migration, which has enabled a 60 percent reduction in the number of irregular arrivals to the Canary Islands, noting that the migration route through Spain and Morocco records the lowest rates in Europe, according to Frontex data.
The Minister also mentioned that the recent high-level meeting held in Madrid culminated in the signing of 14 agreements in key areas including digitization, justice, social protection, combating hate speech, education, sports, agriculture, fisheries, and diplomatic cooperation.
Regarding the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly organized by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, Albares explained that this event opens up "a wide range of opportunities" in the investment and infrastructure sectors, calling on economic actors to take full advantage of this dynamic.
On the other hand, the head of Spanish diplomacy highlighted the depth of the human ties that unite the two countries, pointing to the strong integration of the Moroccan community in Spain, as well as the presence of about 20,000 Spanish citizens residing in Morocco and benefiting from a wide network of schools and Cervantes institutes.
