Morocco has signed three agreements aimed at strengthening its digital offshoring sector by expanding skills training, improving territorial attractiveness and encouraging high value-added investment, authorities said this week.
The agreements were signed on the sidelines of a meeting in Rabat focused on renewing Morocco’s national offshoring strategy, as the country seeks to consolidate its position in a rapidly changing global services market.
The partnerships are designed to support workforce training aligned with the needs of digital companies, develop specialised economic hubs known as Tech Valleys Offshoring, and attract domestic and foreign investors operating in advanced digital services.
Moroccan authorities say the new framework responds to major shifts in the global offshoring industry, driven by service digitalisation, cloud computing, data growth and artificial intelligence, which are reshaping demand and intensifying competition among destinations.
“The objective is to move up the value chain and strengthen Morocco’s competitiveness in digital professions and high value-added services,” officials involved in the initiative said.
Under the agreements, a new training incentive scheme will be rolled out to ensure that local skills match the evolving requirements of digital companies, particularly in areas such as information technology, engineering and specialised business services.
The deals also provide for the development of Tech Valleys Offshoring through the creation of dedicated economic hubs combining technological infrastructure, shared services and office space tailored to offshoring activities. Authorities say these hubs are intended to improve Morocco’s territorial attractiveness by offering investors ready-to-use environments in multiple regions.
Growing contributor to exports
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Offshoring has become one of Morocco’s leading service export sectors. By the end of 2024, the industry employed about 148,500 people and generated 26.2 billion Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to around $2.8 billion, in export revenue, according to official figures.
The sector has traditionally been dominated by call centres and customer relationship management services, serving mainly European markets. However, its profile is gradually shifting toward more sophisticated activities, including IT services, software development, engineering, data processing and other specialised digital functions.
Authorities say this transition is essential to maintaining Morocco’s position as global companies reassess their outsourcing strategies and increasingly prioritise digital capabilities and skilled labour.
Africa is also emerging as a more competitive offshoring destination, with several countries investing heavily in digital infrastructure and talent development. In this context, Morocco is seeking to differentiate itself through a more structured and diversified offer.
Ambitious targets for 2030
The government has set ambitious targets for the sector over the medium term. By 2030, Morocco aims to double offshoring performance, with employment rising to around 270,000 jobs and export revenues approaching 40 billion dirhams, or about $4.3 billion.
Officials say achieving these goals will depend on sustained investment in skills development, stronger links between training institutions and the private sector, and the successful rollout of specialised territorial hubs capable of hosting high value-added projects.
The new agreements are expected to play a central role in that strategy by improving investor visibility and reinforcing the competitiveness of Morocco’s “Made in Morocco” digital services offer on the global market.
Over time, authorities expect the partnerships to attract new technology projects, support the creation of qualified jobs and strengthen Morocco’s position as a regional digital services platform serving both European and African markets.
Morocco has positioned digital offshoring as a key pillar of its broader industrial and export diversification strategy, alongside automotive manufacturing, aerospace and renewable energy, as it seeks to reduce dependence on traditional sectors and boost foreign exchange earnings.
