Officials to address market-access issues faced by Indian pharmaceutical companies
India and Morocco have agreed to double bilateral trade over the next five years from about US$4 billion in 2025 by having regular business delegation visits, prospecting missions and networking activities to identifying new business opportunities, facilitating market access and promoting sustainable partnerships and joint ventures between Moroccan and Indian companies.
This was decided by both sides top trade officials who underscored that diversification of the trade basket and expansion of market access in both goods and services would help unlock the considerable untapped potential of the bilateral economic relationship, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 26 Aug following the conclusion of a visit by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
The two sides reviewed progress in bilateral economic and commercial relations and agreed to further deepen and diversify cooperation across trade, investment, industry, fertilisers, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, digital transformation, transport and other areas of mutual interest.
Minister Prasada visited Morocco from 24 to 25 Aug.
Potential areas identified for enhanced trade included fertilisers and chemicals, mineral resources, machinery and electrical equipment, automotive parts and vehicles, building materials, polymers, agri-food products, tea, metals and tourism. Both countries also agreed on the importance of facilitating predictable and timely market access for pharmaceutical products, the Ministry said.
Prasada held a series of bilateral meetings with senior Moroccan Ministers and dignitaries. During the visit, he co-chaired the meeting of the 7th Session of the India–Morocco Joint Commission with his counterpart, Omar Hejira, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry and Trade, in charge of Foreign Trade, Morocco.
During his visit, Prasada participated in the Morocco–India Business Forum, held bilateral meetings with senior Moroccan Ministers, engaged with the Indian business community and visited the manufacturing facility of India-Maroc Phosphore (IMACID), a joint venture of Morocco’s OCP Group with Indian partners, to review the longstanding India–Morocco partnership in phosphates and fertilisers.
Prasada was accompanied by a high-level business delegation led by the Confederation of Indian Industry, which held fruitful meetings with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, as well as the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).
The 7th India–Morocco Joint Commission provided renewed momentum to the bilateral economic partnership and established an expanded framework for cooperation aimed at increasing trade, strengthening market access, promoting investment and industrial partnerships, and creating new opportunities for Indian and Moroccan businesses, the Ministry said.
To provide an institutional mechanism for advancing this agenda, the two sides agreed to establish an India–Morocco Joint Working Group (JWG) to explore opportunities for developing bilateral trade and the feasibility of a preferential trade agreement between India and Morocco. The JWG will also examine tariff and non-tariff barriers and explore opportunities for improved market access and trade facilitation for goods and services.
The two sides agreed to work jointly to address regulatory and market-access issues faced by Indian pharmaceutical companies, including market authorisation procedures and approval timelines, with a view to facilitating bilateral trade and strengthening pharmaceutical cooperation. The Indian side raised market-access concerns relating to key products for export and the ongoing investigations concerning imports of ceramic tiles from India.
The two sides emphasised the importance of strengthening business-to-business engagement, reciprocal participation in trade fairs and exhibitions, business forums and investment-related activities. They also agreed to strengthen the role of the Morocco–India Business Council and the Morocco–India Chamber of Commerce and Industry in fostering partnerships between the private sectors of the two countries.
In agriculture, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in sustainable agriculture, food security, SPS measures, food safety, agricultural research, digital agriculture, biotechnology and agricultural value chains.
The two sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), Morocco and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Cooperation in the Field of Food Safety. The MoU provides a framework for the exchange of information, technical expertise and best practices, capacity building and activities aimed at facilitating safe and sustainable bilateral trade.
The two sides also signed the Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2026–2030 during the Joint Commission Meeting. The programme will promote cultural exchanges and collaboration through artist and professional exchanges, participation in festivals and exhibitions, cooperation in heritage conservation and strengthened linkages among museums, libraries and archival institutions.
The two countries noted that the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027 will provide an opportunity to further promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties.
The two sides agreed to hold the 8th Session of the India–Morocco Joint Commission in New Delhi, on a date to be mutually agreed through diplomatic channels.
Morocco–India Business Forum: Priority Areas for Investment and Partnerships
At the Morocco–India Business Forum, hosted by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) in Casablanca on 24 August 2026, Shri Jitin Prasada highlighted key areas for enhanced business and investment cooperation, including automotive, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, start-ups and finance, fertilisers and chemicals, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Prasada highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration in automotive value chains, including EV components and precision sub-assemblies; renewable energy, including solar, energy storage and grid management; start-ups, fintech and finance; artificial intelligence; healthcare; and pharmaceuticals, including hospitals, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and digital health.
Prasada highlighted the opportunities offered by India’s rapidly growing economy and invited Moroccan businesses to invest in India, build joint ventures and participate in India’s growth story.
He noted that under the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Viksit Bharat 2047, India is building a modern and globally integrated economy, offering significant opportunities for enhanced India–Morocco business and investment partnerships.
OCP–India Partnership: Strengthening Cooperation in Phosphates and Fertilisers
Prasada visited India-Maroc Phosphore (IMACID), a joint venture of Morocco’s OCP Group with Indian partners, and reviewed the longstanding India–Morocco partnership in phosphates and fertilisers.
The two sides welcomed the strong and enduring cooperation in this strategic sector, including the joint ventures between the OCP Group and Indian partners, namely Paradeep Phosphates Limited and Indo-Maroc Phosphore (IMACID).
The OCP team underscored their commitment to the Minister for the supply of phosphates and fertilisers as per the requirements of the Indian farming sector. The visit reaffirmed the importance of the partnership in supporting India’s fertiliser supply chains and strengthening cooperation across the phosphates and fertilisers sector. Fiinews.com
