Morocco, Spain, and Portugal’s leading business federations have joined forces to create a joint committee to coordinate private-sector efforts for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the three countries.
The initiative was announced in a joint press release on Tuesday after a meeting in Casablanca between Chakib Alj, head of the General Confederation of Moroccan Businesses (CGEM) and Antonio Garamendi, president of Spain’s Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported.
The move was also approved in consultation with Armindo Monteiro, who leads Portugal’s Confederation of Enterprises (CIP).
The three organizations said the new committee will design a roadmap to help companies in all three countries share expertise, build partnerships, and ensure the World Cup leaves a lasting economic and social legacy.
A trilateral business forum is planned for early 2026 in Rabat, bringing together Moroccan, Spanish, and Portuguese entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities ahead of the tournament.
The Casablanca talks, attended by CGEM Vice President Mehdi Tazi and international commission Chair Ghita Lahlou, focused on new avenues to strengthen investment ties between Morocco and Spain—especially among small and medium-sized businesses.
Sectors singled out for growth include tourism, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, sustainability, and new technologies.
The partners also discussed cross-market access, with plans to help Moroccan firms reach Latin America through Spain.
Spanish companies will also be given the opportunity to expand into Africa via Morocco, often described as a gateway to the continent.
The 2030 World Cup, jointly hosted by the three nations, is expected to generate massive infrastructure and service projects. Business leaders agreed that the private sector has a crucial role in turning the event into a driver of growth, jobs, and innovation.
On Monday, Garamendi also met with Karim Zidane, Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Investment, and several Moroccan business figures to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation. He was accompanied by CEOE Vice President Iñigo Fernández de Mesa and international relations Chair Marta Blanco.
Garamendi’s visit underlines the growing strength of economic ties between Morocco and Spain, two countries united by a shared vision of sustainable growth and regional integration.
