During the last few years, the Moroccan economy has been characterized by macro-economic stability, coupled with low inflation and a relatively slow economic growth. The government continues to adopt economic reforms and pursue the economic liberalization drive in order to stimulate growth and create jobs. Morocco grew by about 4% over 2010, thanks to the recovery of tourism, remittances and also the resumption of non-agricultural sector. The kingdom is also trying to diversify its economy in order to no longer depend exclusively on agriculture and emphasize areas such as offshoring in order to boost its economic growth.

The GDP growth rate is having trouble stabilizing. Nevertheless, the soundness of the essential economy of Morocco and the increasing attractiveness of the Sharifian kingdom ensure that despite the financial crisis, the country will still show GDP growth in the coming years. Nevertheless, this growth will be insufficient to diminish poverty and reduce the significant rate of unemployment (10%), especially in some age brackets, such as the 15-24 years olds.

Budgetary deficit remains relatively sustainable, which ensures the country's credibility on the markets. The foreign debt is nevertheless considerabel and the poverty rate remains amongs the highest in the Mediterranean.

Thanks to the richness of Morocco's soil, the agricultural sector is dominant, employing  almost half of the active population and contributing around 20% to the GDP. Grains, fruits and vegetables are the country's main crops. Economic growth relies excessively on this sector.

Morocco has little by way of mineral resources; phosphates being its main wealth. Industry contributes around one-third of the GDP, thanks to the textiles, leather goods, food processing, oil refining and electronic assembling sectors. New industry areas are nevertheless booming as well and thus trying to diminish the kingdom's dependence on its agricultural sector: the chemical, automotive, computer, electronics nad aeronautic industry.

The tertiary sector contributes around 50% of the GDP and depends exclusively on tourism, which remains very dynamic despite the economic slowdown brought about by the attacks of September 11, 2001 and those of May 2003 in Casablanca. Other than granting concessions for a lot of public services in the major towns, the country recently liberalized oil and gas exploration regulations. Calls for tender procedures have become increasingly transparent.

The deflation of commodity prices and weakness of its economic partnerships resulted in a decline in trade of nearly 22% at the end of 2009. The trade deficit thus decreased, but at the end of 2009 it still represented 21% of GDP.

Major sources of imports declines were wheat (-56%) and sulfur (-89%). In terms of exports, there was a considerable drop in the sales of phosphates and derivatives (-64%) and in 2009, the Moroccan Phosphates Board decided to suspend selling in order to prevent a collapse in prices and constitute a substantial stock for the economic recovery.

Morroco's two main export partners are the European Union (70% of trade, the main client and import partner being France, with 15.5% of foreign trade) and the United States. The main export commodities are clothing & clothes, electric machinery, inorganic chemicals, fish & other seafoods. Morroco's two main import partners are the European Union and China. The country mainly imports fuels & oil, electric and electronic machinery and equipment, vehicles, iron and steel.

Since 2000, the authorities have been trying to lower the trade deficit through a series of sector plans (“Emergence 1” and “Emergence 2” for the industrial sector, “Green Morocco” for agriculture et.). It should be noted that free trade accords were signed in 2004 with the United States, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. The kingdom wishes to double its exports by 2018. An emergency plan was nevertheless launched at the beginning of 2009 in order to boost the export industries hit by the economic crisis (leather and textile goods, automotive equipment).

With 2.5 billion USD, in late 2009 Morocco recorded a decline in FDIs of around 27% compared to 2008. However, this decrease is less pronounced than in comparable countries, due to the apparent resilience of the Moroccan economy against the crisis. It is all the more remarkable as there were only few privatizations.

In the past, Morroco essentially leaned heavily on the national privatization plan, the conversion of the foreign debt to investments and concession of public services operations. In the last few years, the Moroccan authorities have managed to attract a relatively substantial flow of foreign assets. Other sectors have taken over, including the banking, tourism and energy sectors. Also visible are some industrial investments. However, the FDI level remains small and could participate more in pushing ahead the country's economy.