While Morocco is working hard to co-organize the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, a delegation commercial of 12 British companies visited the Kingdom from October 15 to 17, 2024. The objective is to explore opportunities for collaboration in the provision of the infrastructure necessary for this major sporting event. On this occasion, the British ambassador in Rabat, Simon Martin, organized a reception this Thursday, October 17 to better explain this mission.
The country is preparing to welcome millions of visitors from all over the world and to establish modern infrastructure that will meet international standards. This British visit highlights the importance of international partnerships to ensure the success of this major event.
Approached by Hespress FR, Simon Martin, notes that “it is a real pleasure for us to welcome this week a delegation of 12 UK companies specializing in development, planning and construction, as well as the design of major projects including stadiums, performance arenas and management of major sporting events. These companies are taking particular interest in preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations and, of course, the FIFA World Cup in 2030”.
“We envision a strong partnership between our two countries to leverage our experience in planning and creating similar projects at home. We also want to leverage the financial expertise of the City of London, our financial center, which can bring international investment to these major projects.”, he adds.
It is well known that large investments, such as those for the Olympic Games or World Cups, can sometimes turn into “white elephants”. It is therefore crucial, from the start of these projects, to plan their legacy so that they do not become such elephants, insists our speaker
Sharing his personal opinion, the British ambassador states: “To illustrate this, I live in the east of London, right next to the Olympic Park created for the 2012 Olympic Games. Today we can see how this former industrial district has transformed into a real magnet, not only for sports, but also as a creative district, home to two university campuses and a large arena where concerts take place every evening, including innovative avatar experiences. What we are experiencing now would not have been imaginable 20 years ago,” he said.
“It is with this spirit of innovation and confidence that our companies are here to share their experience and establish successful partnerships with their Moroccan counterparts.”, insists the diplomat.
For his part, Tauverb Nani. local representative of the RSK Group company, shares the vision of his company. In this regard, he indicates that “RSK Group is a multinational company specializing in environmental services, environmental engineering and the provision of sustainable solutions, while respecting the environment. With a global presence in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, RSK Group has more than 15,000 employees and more than 220 companies, covering all aspects of the environment, with particular expertise in engineering services environmental”.
“We are delighted to be in Rabat for this trade mission in collaboration with the British Embassy. Our objective is to contribute to the development of Morocco, particularly in the environmental field. We are committed to supporting large-scale projects, whether in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup or as part of the Moroccan development plan, which encompasses various projects in the areas of infrastructure, energy and transport”, he says.
In detail, he reveals that “RSK Group East ready to put its expertise at the service of the Moroccan ecosystem, by collaborating with local companies and investing in Morocco to strengthen the activity of environmental engineering in a global manner”.
And to add: “Our expertise is particularly focused on the water sector, a crucial issue in the face of climate change and current global challenges. We have comprehensive expertise in desalination, irrigation and dam engineering projects.”
As for Nils Fischer, director of Zaha Hadid Architects, he explains: “we are a company made up of 500 designers and urban planners, passionate about designing iconic buildings that contribute to the identity of places. Since 2010, we have had the honor of working in Morocco and had the fantastic opportunity to design and supervise the construction of the Grand Théâtre de Rabat, which will soon open its doors”.
“Our heart beats for the public domain”, he added, noting that this is why “We have developed a particular interest in sports infrastructures. We designed the Olympic swimming pool for the London 2012 Games and the Aljanoub Stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. We are also delighted to be part of the British delegation coming to Morocco to collaborate on public social infrastructure in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”
Aware of the importance of infrastructure, our interlocutor underlines: “We firmly believe that spaces bringing people together are essential. That’s why we design airports, transportation lines, high-speed train stations and ferry terminals, everything that enriches the visitor experience.”
So, “We have noted with admiration the progress made by Morocco in the construction of quality buildings in recent years. We look forward to collaborating with Moroccan architects, engineers and government to create innovative, world-class infrastructure, both for the next Games and for the future”, he concludes.
For his part, Tom Hill, consul general of the Business and Commerce department in Casablanca, believes that “this week has been exceptional with the delegation of British companies here in Morocco. We had the opportunity to meet constructively with government and private sector representatives in Casablanca. It’s an exciting time for Morocco, with the World Cup in 2030 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and 2026, not forgetting a host of other events, such as the Club World Cup and competitions futsal internationals”.
For him, as the United Kingdom, “We are both delighted and deeply committed to working with Morocco to realize these ambitious projects. We already have a proven track record of delivering world-class infrastructure, such as Lusail Stadium in Doha and Queen Elizabeth Park in London, designed for the London Olympics.”
Ultimately, our interlocutor expresses his enthusiasm: “We are committed to working together to develop the necessary infrastructure for the future to ensure the success of the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. This week has been extremely fruitful, with many enriching discussions, and we look forward to continuing these exchanges in the months to come”.
