Fastiad President Dr. Faruk Çetin: Türkiye–Morocco Trade Volume Reaches 5 Billion Dollars
The Morocco–Türkiye Business and Investment Forum opened this Friday in Istanbul, bringing together government officials, public institutions, investors, and business leaders from both countries. The event aims to strengthen economic relations within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Morocco and to expand mutual investment opportunities.
The Morocco–Türkiye Business and Investment Forum opened this Friday in Istanbul, bringing together government officials, public institutions, investors, and business leaders from both countries. The event aims to strengthen economic relations within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Morocco and to expand mutual investment opportunities.
Organized jointly by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Trade and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) in cooperation with Turkish authorities, the forum focuses on increasing Morocco’s exports to Türkiye, reducing trade imbalances, and promoting win-win economic partnerships.
Held on November 28, 2025, in Istanbul, the “Türkiye–Morocco Business and Investment Forum” was organized by DEİK and CGEM and attended by prominent figures including Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat; Morocco’s Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira; Moroccan Ambassador to Ankara Mohammed Ali Lazreq; DEİK President Nail Olpak; Vice President of the Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye Furkan Karayaka; CGEM President Chakib Alj; CEO of the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency Ali Seddiki; CGEM/ Morocco–Türkiye Business Council President Najib Chraibi; DEİK/Türkiye–Morocco Business Council President Zeynep Bodur Okyay; FASTİAD President Dr. Faruk Çetin; FASTİAD Vice President Abdulvahap Filiz; and approximately 400 businesspeople.
In his speech at the forum, Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat highlighted the significant progress made in bilateral trade relations. “In the 18 years since the Türkiye–Morocco Free Trade Agreement entered into force, Morocco’s exports to Türkiye have increased ninefold, while Türkiye’s exports to Morocco have risen eightfold. As of 2024, the trade volume between the two countries has reached 5 billion dollars. We aim to maintain this balanced and mutually beneficial trade structure,” Bolat said.
FASTİAD: “We serve as a bridge for Turkish companies investing in Morocco and Africa”
FASTİAD President Dr. Faruk Çetin emphasized the steady growth in Türkiye–Morocco relations over the past two decades. Speaking to Dunyatimes, Çetin stated:
“Since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement in 2006, economic relations between the two countries have accelerated. At FASTİAD, we closely witness this development due to the increasing number of inquiries we receive. We have supported many Turkish companies in their investment processes in Morocco and various African countries. Even now, numerous Turkish firms are in contact with us regarding new investments in Morocco.”
Çetin also underlined the strategic value of both countries, noting that Morocco offers access to Africa, the European Union and the United States, while Türkiye provides strategic access to Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa—an advantage that creates strong synergies for investors.
“As mutual investments grow, economic relations deepen further”
FASTİAD Vice President Abdulvahap Filiz highlighted the forum’s impact in his remarks to Dunyatimes:
“The Morocco–Türkiye Business and Investment Forum has created a significant synergy by bringing together key stakeholders from the economic and investment ecosystems of both nations. As Minister Ömer Bolat mentioned, holding a similar meeting in Morocco within the next one to one and a half months will further strengthen the continuity of this cooperation.”
Filiz noted that the bilateral trade volume reached approximately 5 billion dollars last year, describing this balanced trade structure as an important achievement for both countries.
“Alongside trade, mutual investments play a crucial role in strengthening economic ties. As investments accelerate, total foreign trade also grows in parallel,” he added.
The forum featured presentations on investment opportunities, bilateral meetings, and sector-specific workshops focusing on textiles, automotive, and machinery.
The event serves as a key platform to enhance investment flows, diversify areas of cooperation, and strengthen the future of the Türkiye–Morocco economic partnership.