Why Morocco is an Attractive Place for Textile Exhibition Organizers?

By: Behnam Ghasemi – Kohan Textile Journal

Over the past five years, a growing number of fashion and textile exhibitions have been organized in Morocco by both international and local organizers, creating strong competition between them.

The most important textile exhibition organizers active in Morocco during this period are outlined below:

1-Organizer: Pyramid Group Fairs A.S

Exhibition name: Morocco Fashion and Tex / Morocco Hometex / Morocco leather and shoes

New date: 25 – 28 March 2021

Venue: Foire Internationale de Casablanca Expo Center, Casablanca – Morocco

2-Organizer: CEMS Global

Exhibition name: 2nd Morocco Int’l Yarn & Fabric Sourcing Show 2020 (International exhibition on Yarn & Fabric Manufacturers & Suppliers focused to the Moroccan Textile & Apparel Industry)

New date: 04 – 07 November 2020

Venue: Foire Internationale de Casablanca Expo Center, Casablanca – Morocco

3-Organizer: Amith (Morocco Textile and fashion association)

Exhibition name: Maroc in Mode / Maroc Sourcing 

New date: (it can be change due to Covid-19) 17-18 October 2020

Venue: Marrakech Expo Center – Morocco

The oldest textile and fashion exhibition in Morocco belongs to Pyramid Group Fairs (Morocco Fashion and Tex / Morocco Hometex / Morocco Leather and Shoes), which has been organized in Casablanca since March 2015.

An interesting aspect of Morocco’s textile and fashion market is its appeal to major manufacturing countries such as China, Türkiye and India, with China’s share notably higher than the others. A significant proportion of exhibitors at Morocco’s textile and fashion exhibitions are Chinese companies.

For example, the Morocco Fashion and Tex exhibition covered around 4,000 net square metres last year, of which nearly 2,500 square metres were occupied by the China Pavilion, showcasing a wide range of yarn, fabric, textile and fashion accessories, leather products and related goods.

One of the key drivers behind organizing textile exhibitions in Morocco is the strong interest shown by Chinese textile companies in the market, supported by Chinese government subsidies encouraging manufacturers to expand into the African market and increase exports.

At the same time, strong demand from Moroccan textile manufacturers for materials such as yarn, fabric, textile chemicals and auxiliaries is another driving force for organizers.

After tourism and hospitality, the textile industry is one of the most important sectors in Morocco’s economy, playing a significant role in one of the most stable economies on the African continent over the past decade.

However, it remains too early to conclude how successful these textile exhibitions have been, and more time is needed to evaluate their results. If Morocco’s textile exhibitions become primarily a venue for Chinese exhibitors and Chinese textile products, without stronger participation from other international exhibitors, they risk failing to meaningfully support the development of Morocco’s textile industry.

Morocco Textile Exhibition Organizers: Quick Reference

Morocco’s textile exhibition landscape has historically been organized by three main players — Pyramid Group Fairs, CEMS Global and AMITH — each running distinct sourcing and fashion trade shows in Casablanca and Marrakech.

Why Morocco Attracts Textile Exhibitions

Located at the apex of North-west Africa and across the 14 km Strait of Gibraltar from Spain, the Kingdom of Morocco benefits from an advantageous geographic location at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, and has served as an important business hub connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Explore more textile trade fairs, sourcing events and industry platforms through our Morocco Textile Exhibitions Hub.

Morocco has not only deepened its economic and security ties with the EU, but also with the Gulf states and China.

According to the Oxford Business Group 2018 report on Morocco, it is North Africa’s most politically and economically stable country.