Morocco is the most diversified economy in North Africa and the natural hinge between Europe, the Arab world and West Africa. In 2026 it has taken a step worth looking at closely.
First in Africa for industrialisation
For the first time in the history of the African Development Bank’s Africa Industrialisation Index, Morocco leads the continent and displaces South Africa. The report assessed 54 countries, 41 of which improved their score.
Behind that lead sit its position as Africa’s largest vehicle manufacturer, the aerospace clusters around Casablanca, the port of Tanger Med — the largest on the continent — and infrastructure investment that has exceeded USD 4.2 billion a year since 2007.
The figures
38.43 million inhabitants, GDP of USD 182.59 billion, growth of 4.9% and inflation of 0.8%. Its strategic sectors: agriculture, tourism, fishing, aeronautics and textiles.
What it means for a Canary Islands company
Africa does not only consume: it also manufactures, and increasingly close to home. That changes the map of opportunities, and the map of competition with it. If you want to know where your product fits, let’s talk.
This piece is drawn from Conexión África, IBC Spain’s monthly newsletter. You can read the full edition #9 on LinkedIn or subscribe to the newsletter, which comes out once a month.