British bank Standard Chartered officially inaugurated its new representation office in Casablanca on Wednesday, December 4, after receiving regulatory approval from Bank Al-Maghrib and securing Casablanca Finance City (CFC) status. The Casablanca office will be headed by Cynthia El Asmar, newly appointed Managing Director and Country Head. The ceremony brought together regulators, diplomats, clients and strategic partners, including representatives of Bank Al-Maghrib, UK Ambassador Alex Pinfield OBE, and Saïd Ibrahimi, CEO of Casablanca Finance City Authority, reads a press release. Rola Abu Manneh, CEO for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, said the bank's global expertise positions it to support Morocco's growth ambitions, thanking local authorities for their support. Standard Chartered considers Morocco a strategic gateway between Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, an economy lifted by major infrastructure projects and expected to grow by 3.7% in the coming years. CFC's Saïd Ibrahimi welcomed the bank's arrival as «a strong signal for Casablanca's financial ecosystem and Morocco's positioning as a continental hub». Cynthia El Asmar underlined Morocco's appeal to international investors, noting that the new office will help deepen partnerships in sectors where the country is rapidly advancing, including automotive, renewable energy, aerospace and agri-industry. The opening follows the group's recent expansions in Egypt (2024) and Saudi Arabia (2021). The representation office will enhance client support, cross-border connectivity and structured financing, giving Moroccan and international clients access to Standard Chartered's network across 54 markets.
