Experts are tipping some unlikely places to become tomorrow’s finance capitals.
Mention Morocco and most would first think of the exotic markets of Marrakech, the desert dotted with ancient kasbahs and, of course, the classic 1942 wartime film “Casablanca.”But Casablanca, the main port city of Morocco, is among the places being tipped by experts as emerging future global financial centers.As the gateway between Europe and Africa, Casablanca aims to take advantage of its geographical position and also act as a hub for North, West and Central Africa, said Hicham Zegrary, director of operations and institutional affairs at the Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA).The CFCA is working hard to position Casablanca as an international financial center, he said, by building its technology infrastructure and improving the legal environment in which business is done. Zegrary added that due to Morocco’s many partners throughout Europe, North America and Asia, for investors “it is easier to do business with African countries from Morocco.”
