Morocco is facing numerous obstacles to development. These include high population growth, a low literacy rate, wide disparities between urban and rural areas, and substantial rural-urban migration. Further complications are lack of access to training and basic medical services, high unemployment and widespread poverty. Women are disadvantaged in their economic and social development. Other serious development problems are the growing scarcity of natural resources, and desertification.

Morocco’s economy is strongly tied to Europe through foreign trade. Globalisation and the free trade zone with the EU agreed for 2012 involve major risks for employment in view of the inadequate competitiveness of many firms.

German-Moroccan Technical Cooperation dates back to the mid-60s. Today, Morocco is a priority country in German development cooperation. Technical cooperation is implemented by GTZ under a commission from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Priority areas are economic promotion, environmental protection and resource conservation and water.

GTZ has maintained an office in Rabat since 1999.