In this context, the article referred to UN data which indicates that life expectancy has increased by nine years, reaching approximately seventy-five years. Real income per capita has doubled since 1998, and expected years of schooling have nearly doubled from 8.1 to 14.6. Morocco’s High Commission for Planning also reported a drastic reduction in the poverty rate, from 15.3% in 2001 to just 1.7% in 2019.

Despite these advancements, Morocco encountered setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, consecutive droughts, and the 2023 earthquake in the Haouz region, revealing developmental vulnerabilities, as indicated by the article.

It further highlighted that Morocco’s modernization strategy has been bolstered by substantial investments in infrastructure, exemplified by projects such as the Tanger Med port. Expanded in 2019, Tanger Med now stands as the largest container port in the Mediterranean, facilitating Morocco's integration into global value chains. The kingdom's automotive and aerospace industries have thrived, attracting significant foreign direct investment (FDI) and enhancing manufacturing's contribution to GDP.

Recognizing the urgency of sustainability, Morocco launched ambitious initiatives like the National Energy Strategy and the Noor Concentrated Solar Power Complex, as indicated in the article. It noted that these initiatives aim to bolster renewable energy capacity and decrease reliance on fossil fuels. 

Carnegie underscored that Morocco’s economic strategy is influenced by its geopolitical positioning. The kingdom has strategically engaged with the EU, its largest economic partner, while expanding ties with sub-Saharan Africa and forging partnerships with global powers such as the United States and China, emphasizing the country’s significant regional investments and fostering new cooperative initiatives like the Atlantic Initiative. As the article pointed out, this approach—characterized by pragmatism and strategic autonomy—positions Morocco as a pivotal bridge between diverse geopolitical interests, earning the kingdom the nickname of “global connector” by Bloomberg Businessweek.

The article highlighted that the Moroccan government is working to improve education and reduce reliance on informal employment, aiming to double female labor participation by 2035 and enhance the social protection system. It specified that addressing governance issues and fostering innovation would generate sustainable economic growth.

Link to the article: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/09/moroccos-long-road-toward-economic-transformation?lang=en