UK government backs British business to get slice of £33bn in Morocco World Cup contracts
British businesses hoping to get in on £33bn worth of World Cup contracts in Morocco have been boosted by government backing.
The Foreign Office is aiming to help British firms get a piece of the construction cake as a number of projects ramp up in North Africa ahead of the next Fifa World Cup, which could see its final take place in Morocco.
The next edition of the tournament will see co-hosts Portugal, Spain and Morocco joined by a number of countries from South America in hosting a World Cup which will celebrate the centenary of the first edition in Uruguay.
A new 115,000-capacity Grand Stade Hassan II stadium will be the central infrastructure project at the next World Cup, but there will be developments across Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat in sectors such as aviation – with a new airport upgrade – as well as transport, security and professional services.
Morocco opportunity
Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said: “As the final whistle blows on one World Cup, British businesses are already looking ahead to the next.
“From stadium design and transport systems, UK companies have the expertise Morocco needs to deliver a world-class tournament.
“The Foreign Office will continue opening doors for British firms to win contracts that support jobs, growth, and investment back home.”
Best of Britain?
The UK’s existing trade with Morocco is worth nearly £5bn, with the Foreign Office stating that British businesses will be supported in their bids by ministerial engagements, trade missions and diplomatic support with an estimated £33bn in procurement set to be tendered over the next three years.
London-headquartered Steer Group has provided expertise on crowd-modelling and fan movement ahead of the tournament, while the Haydock-based ATG Access is looking at helping Morocco with transport hubs and crowd safety.
ATG Access’ Lucy Ketley said: “Morocco’s investment ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup presents a significant opportunity to create safe, resilient and welcoming public spaces. We’re proud to be exploring how our British-designed hostile vehicle mitigation and perimeter security expertise can support that ambition.
“The support of UK diplomatic and trade teams has been invaluable in helping us build relationships and identify opportunities that can drive growth both internationally and here in the UK.”