On 23 July 2026 in Bamako, during the Mali–Morocco Business Forum organised by the CCIM, CGEM, and CNPM, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation. More than 300 business operators took part in the meeting, alongside Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, and his Malian counterpart, Moussa Alassane Diallo.
Mali and Morocco strengthened their economic cooperation during a Business Forum held on 23 July 2026 in Bamako, on the sidelines of the 4th Joint Cooperation Commission between the two countries. The event brought together more than 300 business operators, including a large Moroccan delegation made up of key stakeholders from various sectors such as agribusiness, energy, mining, finance, and logistics. The initiative aims to give new momentum to the Mali–Morocco partnership by improving the business climate, boosting co-development, and expanding trade exchanges. Moroccan exports to Mali reached USD 184.8 million in 2025, as Mali seeks to increase its own export volumes.
“Many of our economic operators are naturally interested in Mali and are investing there first with their hearts and then with reason, because Mali is a dynamic country, one that is expected to achieve more than 6% growth this year and offers tremendous investment opportunities. It is undergoing a major socio-economic transformation. That is why Moroccan operators came in large numbers today. More than 50 operators are present, with over 100 people in the economic delegation, to identify the opportunities where they can contribute to accelerating Mali’s growth momentum.”
Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade – Morocco
Morocco is a key economic partner for Mali, thanks to its investments in several strategic sectors. The Business Forum therefore aims to strengthen this cooperation, expand it into new areas, and create an even more ambitious economic dynamic between the two countries.
“Our government is committed to major reforms aimed at improving the business climate, facilitating private investment, and securing foreign capital. We are firmly determined to make the private sector the true engine of our economic development.”
Moussa Alassane Diallo, Minister of Industry and Trade – Mali
Beyond institutional agreements, infrastructure represents a major driver of economic development and trade between Morocco and Mali. The Dakhla Atlantic Port project, located in southern Morocco, reflects this ambition. With an investment of 1.2 billion Euro and a capacity of up to 35–36 million tonnes of goods, this deep-water port will strengthen African countries’ access, particularly Mali’s, to international markets by facilitating the export of their products.
“We firmly believe that infrastructure is fundamental to enabling trade and attracting investment. This includes roads, ports, bridges, energy, and all the essential foundations that allow us to invest through our private sectors, move our goods, build factories, and produce locally in order to export or even serve domestic markets. In this regard, I would like to commend the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, namely the Atlantic Port project in southern Morocco.”
Mehdi Tazi, President, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) – Morocco
This strengthening of economic ties is part of a broader diplomatic dynamic between Mali and Morocco. Strategically, Mali joined in April 2025 the Moroccan initiative aimed at providing Sahel countries with access to Atlantic ports, a key opportunity to improve the country’s connectivity and diversify its trade routes. This rapprochement was further consolidated in April 2026 by a major political shift: Mali officially withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and expressed its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
