Capital Markets: Morocco Showcases Its Ambitions in London

The 2026 edition of Morocco Capital Markets Days (MCMD), the flagship international event of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, concluded successfully in London. Held on 7–8 May, this edition confirmed its role as a strategic platform for promoting the Moroccan stock market to the international financial community, in the context of the Kingdom’s return to “Investment Grade” status, according to a press release.

In line with previous editions, MCMD 2026 has established itself as a key event for international investors seeking to capitalise on opportunities offered by Morocco’s capital markets.

This edition brought together nearly 200 participants, including numerous London-based institutional investors, as well as a significant Moroccan delegation led by Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance; Hakim Hajoui, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Tarik Senhaji, Chairman of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC); Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, Chairman of the Board of the Casablanca Stock Exchange; and Nasser Seddiqi, the institution’s Chief Executive Officer.

Moroccan “Momentum”

The highlight of the event was the plenary conference held under the theme: “From Investment Grade to Investment Scale: Morocco’s New Capital Markets Momentum.” It was opened by Nadia Fettah Alaoui and Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director at the UK Department for Business and Trade.

On this occasion, the Minister stated: “The real challenge today is to transform the credibility acquired by Morocco into large-scale economic acceleration capacity. This requires deeper, more transparent capital markets that are fully connected to global investment flows. Morocco is entering a new phase of its development, driven by a long-term vision, continuity of reforms, and a clear ambition to scale up.”

In his opening address, Tarik Senhaji emphasised: “Driven by structural reforms aligned with international standards, Morocco’s capital market is gaining credibility and reaching a new level of maturity. This is reflected in the diversification of financing options, support for innovation, and easier access to capital markets for companies, particularly through the stock exchange. By boosting liquidity and broadening its investor base (both domestic and international), Morocco is turning this ambition into tangible growth drivers for its real economy.”

For his part, Nasser Seddiqi, CEO of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, stated: “With the return to Investment Grade status, the launch of derivatives products, and a more dynamic and deeper equity segment, Morocco’s capital markets are entering a new phase. The MCMD theme this year captures our position well: Investment Grade represents recognition; Investment Scale represents ambition.”

The plenary brought together several high-level speakers, including Yann Le Pallec, President of S&P Global Ratings; Ghislane Guedira, CEO of APM Capital Morocco; Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, Chairman of the Casablanca Stock Exchange; and Samir Parkash, member of the executive committee and board of UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Chief Risk Officer of UK Export Finance.

Moderated by Selloua Chakri of SCL Advisory, the discussion framed “Investment Grade” not as an endpoint, but as the starting point of a genuine scaling-up process. Yann Le Pallec offered a comparative analysis of emerging markets, while Samir Parkash outlined the conditions required to structure international capital flows towards Morocco. Ghislane Guedira highlighted the Kingdom’s ability to attract long-term institutional investors, supported by the recent closing (in February) of a fund worth several hundred million dollars dedicated to Moroccan infrastructure, according to the release.

The discussions emphasised the structuring role of capital markets as a channel for transmitting sovereign credibility into real investment. Participants notably referenced three IPOs, more than $600 million raised, market capitalisation surpassing the $100 billion threshold for the first time, as well as the launch of the futures market and a central counterparty clearing house (CCP), strengthening the depth of the financial market, the statement added.

One-to-one meeting sessions also proved highly successful. The participation of around forty listed Moroccan companies and a similar number of international investors resulted in nearly 220 bilateral meetings. This strong engagement reflects the maturity of Moroccan issuers, who are now proactively seeking capital, supported by clearly defined growth trajectories, solid fundamentals, and a strong ambition for international expansion.

Before major London-based institutional investors, Moroccan executives presented their regional and international development strategies, demonstrating the growing ability of listed companies to be integrated into major global investment portfolios and to pursue their ambitions at continental and global scale, the same source noted.

The 2026 edition was also marked by several parallel events, each focusing on the priorities of the Moroccan market.

The opening ceremony, held at the headquarters of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), now a regular feature of MCMD, reaffirmed the strength of the long-term strategic partnership between the Casablanca Stock Exchange and LSEG, built over more than a decade around a shared vision for capital market development.

A workshop co-organised with Bloomberg at its London offices highlighted the launch of the futures market at the Casablanca Stock Exchange, presented as a major step forward for market depth and liquidity. Bloomberg experts shared their analysis of global market trends and the evolving investment landscape in Morocco, while also showcasing the group’s data and technology capabilities, the statement noted.

In addition, workshops jointly organised with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB/IFRS) and Fitch Ratings enabled Moroccan issuers and market operators to stay informed about the latest developments in international standards for financial reporting and credit ratings, considered key drivers of attractiveness and competitiveness for emerging markets, the communiqué stated.

Beyond its financial dimension, MCMD 2026 confirmed Morocco’s rising profile within the emerging markets landscape, as well as the growing interest of international investors in a Moroccan trajectory that is now perceived as credible, clear, and sustainable, the statement concluded.