Morocco, Tunisia Vie to Become the “New China in Africa”

A technician programs logic boards at a factory where respirators are produced in the town of Nouaceur, about 30km south of Casablanca, on June 5, 2020, as part of efforts against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. FADEL SENNA / AFP

For years, European companies, like others, have been steadily moving their production from China to lower-cost, less complicated manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. The massive disruption to global supply chains brought about due to the COVID-19 outbreak has only accelerated that effort.

Now, two of North Africa’s largest countries are vying to attract EU companies away from Asia to set up shop closer to their target markets in Europe. Both Morocco and Tunisia are promoting their stable political systems, reliable infrastructure and ample supply of educated labor to European manufacturers in what can be described as the “We’re the new China” sales pitch.

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