The British government has stated that businesses are free to decide whether to trade or invest in Morocco’s southern regions, following a parliamentary inquiry into UK trade policies in disputed territories.
On March 14, a question was raised in Parliament asking whether the Secretary of State for Business and Trade had assessed the implications of allowing UK businesses, investment firms, and trading entities to invest, trade, and import goods from territories such as the Moroccan Sahara, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and other disputed regions.
Labour MP Douglas Alexander, responding on behalf of the government, reaffirmed the UK’s support for a United Nations-led political resolution in the Sahara. He clarified that the government neither encourages nor restricts business activities in the region, leaving the decision to private enterprises.
However, Alexander underscored that the UK does not support trade with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which are considered illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements do not qualify for preferential trade terms under UK agreements.
The statement comes amid a surge of investment in Morocco’s southern provinces, as the North African nation continues its large-scale development efforts in the region.
In 2020, Morocco launched the “Southern Provinces Development Project,” a multi-billion-dollar initiative aimed at attracting both local and international investors. The plan focuses on infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and mining, with major upgrades to roads, ports, and industrial zones.
The investment drive has attracted key partners, including the United Arab Emirates, Spain, and France. The UAE has invested in large-scale renewable energy projects, particularly solar farms. Spain, a key trade partner, has focused on renewable energy and port development. France has played a significant role in phosphate extraction, a vital industry in the regio
Story by Khadija Tachfine
