Updated: September 4, 2026
Since this agreement was originally announced in 2021, the cooperation has evolved. The original initiative was introduced as the “CBI-Morocco Apparel & Textiles Program: 2021–2026,” aimed at supporting around 35 Moroccan textile companies in expanding into European markets. CBI subsequently developed a related, sustainability-focused initiative under the name “Morocco Apparel,” concentrating on decarbonisation and connecting Moroccan SMEs with European markets that require sustainable production. According to CBI’s official project page, which lists the project period as 2021–2025, this initiative was ended in February 2025 following an in-depth project evaluation. CBI has not stated whether this represents a renaming of the original 35-company programme or a separate, related project — so the current operational status of the original export-support programme should not be assumed from the newer initiative’s closure alone.
The Moroccan Association of Textile and Clothing Industries (AMITH) signed a strategic agreement in Casablanca in December 2021 with the Netherlands’ Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI). The aim was to help 35 Moroccan textile companies expand into Central and Northern European markets.
A Programme for 35 Moroccan Textile Firms
When the agreement was announced, Moroccan suppliers were expected to gain access to new networking channels connecting them directly with European retailers. Programme head Juliette Van Iperen said at the time that the initiative would help participating companies build up their export presence in Europe gradually over five years.
According to Moroccan media reports at the time, the 35 companies were to be selected through a detailed evaluation of their technical capability, market readiness and compliance with corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards.
Spain and France remain Morocco’s largest traditional trade partners, and the collaboration was intended to widen the country’s reach into other European markets. How far it achieved that has not been publicly reported.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partners | AMITH (Morocco) and CBI (Netherlands) |
| Announced | December 2021, Casablanca |
| Programme | CBI-Morocco Apparel & Textiles Program 2021–2026 |
| Companies targeted | About 35 Moroccan textile and apparel firms |
| Target markets | Central and Northern Europe |
| Selection criteria | Technical capability, market readiness and CSR compliance |
| Later initiative | “Morocco Apparel” (sustainability and decarbonisation), ended February 2025 according to CBI |
Morocco’s Textile Export Strategy Has Continued to Evolve
Since the original agreement was announced, Morocco’s textile industry has continued to strengthen its international positioning, particularly around nearshoring, sustainability, circularity, agility and closer integration with European supply chains.
In November 2024, AMITH and EURATEX signed a separate memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening Euro-Mediterranean textile cooperation. The agreement focuses on sustainability and circularity standards, regulatory and customs challenges, investment and the implementation of revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean trade rules.
Cooperation with the Netherlands has also remained on the agenda. In July 2024, AMITH met with the Dutch Ambassador to Morocco and specifically proposed an MoU with CBI as part of efforts to mobilise the Moroccan textile sector through new projects and expert support.
More recently, Morocco has continued pursuing international market diversification. In June 2025, for example, AMITH organised a B2B mission to Türkiye involving 12 Moroccan companies and more than 120 business meetings with international sourcing offices, brands and retailers.
Editor’s Note:
This article was originally published in December 2021 and has been updated in September 2026 with additional information on the development of Morocco’s textile export strategy and the status of the CBI programme.
For more on Morocco’s EU market access and trade partnerships, see Kohan Textile Journal’s Morocco Textile Trade Hub.
