MISSION STATEMENT:
Business Development Mission to Morocco

Morocco
March 30-April 1, 2011

MISSION DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service is organizing a Business Development Mission to explore ports and infrastructure development opportunities in Morocco (Casablanca and Tangier), March 30 - April 1, 2011.  This mission, led by a Senior Official of the Department of Commerce or other U.S. agency, will focus on the opportunities in port logistics, infrastructure projects, safety and security, and energy infrastructure.  The mission will include one-on-one business appointments with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint venture partners; site visits to ports and free trade zones, meetings with government officials, and networking receptions for companies interested in expansion into the North African, Middle Eastern and Southern European markets.

Overview

Morocco is the only African country to have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S.  Since the FTA went into effect in 2006, U.S. exports to Morocco have tripled to $1.6 billion.  Morocco has aggressively developed the infrastructure to become a gateway to North Africa and the European Union.  The Port of Tanger-Med, soon to be Africa’s largest port, is located only eight miles from Europe, at the northern tip of Africa where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.  Tanger-Med already offers direct shipping from Houston, Mobile, Jacksonville, Miami, Savannah, Charleston, and Norfolk.  This strategically located port offers free trade zones, including the Auto Zone dedicated to auto parts, and direct distribution systems onward to the European Union, the Middle East, and North Africa.

The Trade Mission coincides with the Tanger Mediterranean Special Agency’s (TMSA) fourth annual MedLog Conference (Conference), March 31 - April 1, 2011.  TMSA is responsible for all Tanger-Med building projects, port operations, and management of the free trade zones.  Mission participants will meet buyers of safety and security, and vessel management equipment, and conduct one-on-one business appointments with officials who purchase products and services for the port facilities.  In addition, meetings will be arranged with companies that have already been awarded the designated infrastructure projects in order to identify supplier contacts. 

Best Sector Prospects

Port Logistics

Construction of Tanger-Med II, an additional set of cargo terminals and storage, is currently underway and the port will begin issuing tenders for equipment and services in the next 12 - 18 months.  As part of a national logistics program, the Moroccan government recently announced a 20-year, $13 billion project    to build port, rail, highway, and airport logistics centers, with port management, vessel tracking and management, cold storage, warehousing, railways, bridges, and distribution centers.  Government tenders are now being issued for these projects, and the plans are to spend $7 billion on the project by 2015.

Examples of planned port projects include:

• A $69 million project to convert the old port, located near the City of Tangier, into a tourist center and passenger terminal
• Nador West Med, a new industrial port for the coastal city of Nador

Infrastructure Projects

Morocco has multi-billion dollar construction projects in many sectors.  Opportunities exist in port construction and logistics facilities, hotels and resorts, road construction and equipment, airports, hospitals and clinics, municipal buildings, renewable power plants (particularly solar and wind), waste management plants, schools and universities, water management plants, and architecture.

Examples of upcoming infrastructure projects include design and construction of:

• A high-speed rail line from Tangier to Casablanca, with $4.5 billion to be spent by 2015 
• An $830 million light rail line around Casablanca 
• 60 dams at $1.47 billion  
• Water desalination plants at $1.22 billion 
• Highway systems in Rabat, Tit Mellil-Berrechid and El Jadida-Safi at $1.7 billion
• Low-cost housing of 130,000 units at $1.9 billion
• New passenger and cargo rail stations for Marrakesh and Casablanca

Safety/Security

Tangier is the closest land access point between Africa and Europe, creating a need for cargo and passenger control/tracking systems, surveillance equipment including sonar and radar, biometric passport technologies, and other equipment used in the fight against drug trafficking, smuggling and counter terrorism.  The military and police agencies are purchasing safety and security equipment for protecting Morocco’s two vast coastlines and remote national borders.

Energy Infrastructure

As industry grows in Morocco, there is an increasing need for coal and gas-fired energy plants.  A $2.7 billion coal-fired power plant (1320 megawatts) is planned for the coastal city of Safi and $450 million will be used specifically for clean coal technology.  Opportunities also exist for equipment and services in solar and wind energy.  Five new wind farms will be built by 2020 to supply 2000 megawatts of electricity.  In late 2009, Morocco announced a $9 billion solar energy program and established a Solar Energy Agency.  Engineering, construction, procurement and, and management opportunities also exist.

Mission Goals

The goal of the trade mission is to provide U.S. participants with first-hand market information, access to government decision makers as appropriate and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, including potential agents, distributors and partners, so they can position themselves to enter or expand their presence in the Moroccan markets. 

Mission Scenario

The Trade Mission will include two  stops: Casablanca and Tangier.

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, the commercial center of Morocco and the headquarters and industrial facilities location for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco.

Tangier is home to the Tanger-Med Port.  In addition, Tangier is undergoing rapid development and modernization.  Plans for the city include five-star hotels along the bay, a modern business district, an airport terminal and a soccer stadium.

In each city, participants will meet with new business contacts, learn about the markets by participating in Embassy briefings, and explore additional opportunities at networking venues.  Activities will include one-on-one business appointments with pre-screened business prospects.

PROPOSED TIMETABLE

Post to revamp, based on airline schedules
Wednesday      March 30         Orientation and market briefings, one-on-one business appointments,
                                                Evening transfer to Tangier
Thursday         March 31         Attend the MedLog Conference, meetings with port and Moroccan
                                                Government officials and Ambassador’s reception.
Friday              April 1             One-on-one business appointments
Saturday          April 2             Depart Morocco for U.S. 

END OF MISSION

Participation Requirements

All parties interested in participating in the Trade Mission to Morocco must complete and submit an application package for consideration by the U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below.  This mission is designed for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 25 companies to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies already doing business in the target markets as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter these markets for the first time are encouraged to apply. 

Fees and Expenses:

After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $2,000 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)¹ and $2,325 for large firms.  The fee for each additional firm representative (SME or large firm) is $500.   Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, interpreters, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

Conditions for Participation:

• An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on the company’s products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation. If the U.S. Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the application, request additional information, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the applications.
• Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content.

Selection Criteria for Participation: 

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Suitability of the company’s products or services to the targeted markets
• Applicant’s potential for business in the target markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
• Consistency of the applicant’s goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission

Diversity of company size, sector or subsector, and location may also be considered during the review process.

Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing references to partisan political activities (including political contributions) will be removed from an applicant’s submission and not considered during the selection process.

TIMEFRAME FOR RECRUITMENT AND APPLICATIONS

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting on the U.S. Department of Commerce trade missions calendar -- http://www.trade.gov/trade-missions -- and other Internet websites, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, direct outreach to the Department’s clients and distribution lists, posting in the Federal Register, and announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

Recruitment for the mission will begin September 20, 2010 and conclude no later than January 21, 2111.   Applications received after January 21, 2011 will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. We will inform applicants of selection decisions as soon as possible after January 21, 2111.   Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contacts:

Trade Promotion Programs

Anne Novak
Tel: 202-482-8178
Fax: 202-482-9000
E-mail:  EgyptMoroccoTM@Trade.gov

Africa, Near East and South Asia

Sal Tauhidi
Tel: 202-482-1322
Fax: 202-482-5179
E-mail: EgyptMoroccoTM@Trade.gov

¹An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations. Parent companies, affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size.  The dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that became effective May 1, 2008.