Ireland’s exports to Morocco totaled 69 million euros during the first half of this year, an increase of 21% compared to the same period last year, according to recent data issued by the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce.
Ireland has shown a strong interest in establishing ties with Morocco as its entry point to Africa.
The Moroccan ambassador to Ireland, Lahcen Mahraoui, had exchanges with the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, and the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, in September 2022 about deepening bilateral ties and the potential opening of a maritime line between Tangier and Cork, Ireland.
Michael Creed, a former Irish minister of agriculture, visited Morocco in 2016 and met with Moroccan officials to discuss ways to advance cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors as well as ways to increase Irish investment in Morocco.
Dublin’s semi-annual exports to all Arab nations totaled 1.46 billion euros.
“Irish companies in sectors such as technology, tourism, aviation, infrastructure, and tourism have performed very well in the Arab world,” according to Ahmed Yunis, CEO of the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce.
Ireland increased its exports to Tunisia by 148% over the same period last year, totaling 17 million euros, while its shipments to Algeria reached about 5,8 million euros in the first half of this year.
Saudi Arabia’s purchases from Ireland during the first half of 2023 amounted to roughly 464 million euros, up 6% from the same time in 2022.