Chakib Alj: The 2030 World Cup as a Catalyst for Economic and Social Development for Morocco, Spain and Portugal

Speaking at the Morocco–Spain–Portugal Business Forum on the 2030 World Cup, organized this Tuesday by the CGEM in partnership with its Spanish (CEOE) and Portuguese (CIP) counterparts, Mr. Alj explained that the continental competition had been organized as a “full-scale rehearsal,” confirming that “Morocco delivered the best Africa Cup of Nations in history.” He added that the event generated direct economic returns estimated at more than two billion euros.

The head of Morocco’s employers’ organization considered that the main contribution of these continental competitions lies in “acceleration”: “within the space of two years, we achieved what would have taken a decade under normal conditions.” He specified that more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs were created and that over 3,000 Moroccan companies were mobilized across construction sites, services, logistics and event organization.

Mr. Alj also underlined that tens of thousands of young people benefited from training that sustainably strengthened their employability in the fields of engineering, technology and event management. He added that “the Moroccan private sector plays a central and decisive role,” noting that “it is national companies, large, medium-sized and small, that translate this vision into concrete projects, productive investments and sustainable jobs.”

In this context, he indicated that the CGEM is fully mobilized to ensure that the opportunities generated translate into locally created added value, the strengthening of industrial value chains and market access for all Moroccan companies. He insisted on “a fundamental pillar,” namely the integration of very small, small and medium-sized enterprises.

He recalled that in recent years Morocco has made significant efforts to strengthen the capacities of VSMEs, facilitate their access to markets, encourage innovation and integrate sustainability requirements, affirming that “this work will continue.” He added: “In this positive momentum experienced by Morocco, but also by Spain and Portugal, and in an increasingly complex and uncertain global context, we have the will to work together, move forward together and prosper together, by pooling our experiences, expertise and complementarities.”

Continuing his remarks, Mr. Alj stated: “We are already doing so, and successfully: our countries are genuine economic partners. But we know that our potential is even greater.” He emphasized that the 2030 deadline represents a unique opportunity to materialize this potential through rich and diversified areas of cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and mobility, where new ambitious projects could emerge to strengthen connectivity between the two continents, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and contribute to the decarbonization of economies.

The President of the CGEM also referred to the tourism and leisure sector, which he described as “fertile ground for new partnerships.” He recalled that the three countries welcome nearly 100 million tourists every year and together possess exceptional cultural, historical and natural heritage, offering unique opportunities to create shared experiences combining sport, culture and discovery.

He added that strengthening hotel and leisure infrastructure, at all levels, becomes possible through joint work and the sharing of expertise in visitor reception and management. The 2030 World Cup also represents, in his view, “a tremendous opportunity to integrate technology,” by developing shared digital solutions, including ticketing, flow management and security, through cooperation between startups and technology hubs, in order to create a true shared innovation ecosystem.

In an international context marked by the reconfiguration of value chains and heightened competition, Mr. Alj considered that “going it alone is no longer an option.” He stressed the existence of a strong conviction that joining forces, sharing know-how and building joint projects will enable companies to gain in impact, resilience and competitiveness.

Finally, he recalled that Spanish partners know better than anyone how a sporting event of the scale of the World Cup can transform a country’s trajectory, citing Spain’s experience with the 1982 World Cup and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. These milestones, he explained, served as a starting point for infrastructure modernization, international repositioning and economic upgrading. “They transformed ambition into reality, and it is this same vision that today guides Morocco’s agenda towards 2030 and beyond,” he concluded.

Editorial team/le7tv