Events

Back

Improving supply chain resilience: integration with African supply chains through Morocco

From

20
5:30 pm October 2026
Add to Calendar 2026-10-20 17:30:00 2026-10-23 17:59:17 Improving supply chain resilience: integration with African supply chains through Morocco Description Location Policy Center Policy Center Africa/Casablanca public

Global supply chains are facing increasing economic and geopolitical disruptions, from export restrictions to conflicts affecting critical trade routes. These challenges are prompting countries to rethink their industrial strategies, diversify supply sources, and strengthen economic security.

With its strategic position between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, growing industrial capabilities, and participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Morocco is well positioned to serve as a bridge between African, European, and global markets. This role also presents opportunities to deepen economic cooperation with the United Kingdom, particularly in trade, investment, and supply chain diversification.

In this context, ODI Global hosted a roundtable on October 20, 2026, in London, bringing together policymakers and experts to discuss the challenges facing global supply chains, Morocco’s economic transformation, and opportunities for stronger UK–Morocco cooperation.

The discussion brought together the following speakers:

  • Hans Peter Lankes, Managing Director and Deputy Chief Executive, ODI Global
  • Hakim Hajoui, Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South
  • Arkebe Oqubay, British Academy Global Professor, SOAS University of London
  • Jago Salmon, Principal Policy Fellow, ODI Global
  • Max Mendez-Parra, Principal Research Fellow, ODI Global
  • Jodie Keane, Principal Research Fellow, ODI Global
Speakers
Karim El Aynaoui
Executive President
Karim El Aynaoui is Executive President of the Policy Center for the New South. He is also Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Dean of its Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences Cluster.  From 2005 to 2012, he worked at the Central Bank of Morocco (Bank Al-Maghrib) as Director of Economics, Statistics, and International Relations. He also created and headed the Research Department and served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Previously, he worked for eight years at the World Bank as an economist for its regional units of the Middle East and North Africa and Africa. Karim El Aynaoui has published books and journal articles on macroeconomic and structural issues in developing countries. Recently, he co-edited a book entitled ...