Morocco and Australia have created their first organization dedicated to promoting bilateral trade between the two countries. Named the AustraliaMorocco Business Network (AMBN), the organization was launched in Adelaide, South Australia, according to a press release sent Friday to Yabiladi. The newly established platform is led by Moroccan Soufiane Rboub, who previously served as President of the Arab Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a board member of an advisory committee to the Foreign Minister on Arab-Australian relations (CAAR). The network has a board of directors composed of members deeply invested in Morocco and Africa, the document indicates. The launch of the AMBN was attended by businesses and government representatives, including the representative of the Minister for Trade, Tally Reaburn, and the CEO of the South Australian Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Kay. «The choice of Adelaide, South Australia, for the launch of our network is particularly appropriate, given the shared priorities between South Australia and the Kingdom of Morocco in key sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, water management, and mining», said Soufiane Rboub. «As Australia's driest state, South Australia has developed advanced water resource management, recycling techniques, and innovative solutions. This expertise could be highly beneficial to Morocco, which is also facing significant water scarcity issues», he added. Trade between Australia and Morocco has seen an upward trend in recent years. In 2022, the total value of bilateral trade reached approximately AUD 250 million, with Australian exports accounting for around AUD 180 million. Australia's main exports to Morocco include cereals, meat, and dairy products, while Morocco primarily exports phosphates, chemicals, and textiles to Australia. «Morocco's strategic position as a gateway to Africa offers Australian businesses unparalleled access to the continent's emerging markets», Jade Evans, Director for the Middle East and Africa at Dragoman Consulting and member of the AMBN Board of Directors, stated. The launch of AMBN also creates new opportunities for Moroccan exporters to penetrate the Australian market. Australia is a growing and diverse market for Moroccan products, particularly food products, textiles, and handicrafts.
