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Weekly highlights

Industry

Extreme streamlining of procedures to Secure Investment

«N O The Head of
Government, Aziz
Akhannouch, eight
ministers (Ryad
Mezzour, Abdellatif Miraoui, Leila
Benali, Mohamed Abdeljalil, Nizar
Baraka, Mohcine Jazouli, Fatim-
Zahra Ammor, and Younes Sekko-
uri), along with several regional
presidents, made their mark at the
second edition of National Industry
Day. This edition was held jointly
by the General Confederation of
Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and
the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Under the theme «Industry, a Cata-
lyst for Transforming Territories in
Light of the Kingdom’s Transfor-
mative Projects,» the National In-
dustry Day brought together a large
number of economic and institutio-
nal operators. The aim is to streng-
then the platform for discussions
on the issues of sovereignty and the
transformation of national industry
within the framework of the new
national strategic orientation. The
royal message addressed during the
first edition set a new course: the Industrial and technological innovation, industrial sovereignty, a «Made in Morocco» label—these are the challenges facing the natio-
national industry must undergo a nal industry
transformation aimed at upgrading fications and ex-post verifications.” 13,000 in 2023, along with the num- the payment to businesses of over
its quality, with the goal of integra- Chami’s remarks were well received ber of jobs created (from 477,000 to 20 billion dirhams (USD 2 billion)
ting new global value chains. by the national industrial elite. 1 million today). “Our country has in VAT arrears and others... For the
Eliminating Administrative Barriers Earlier, the Head of Government also managed, within this momen- current year, the latest sector indica-
“To secure industrial investment, we presented the progress made in the tanément, to expand its economic tors appear very encouraging, said
must eliminate administrative and sector. The figures are striking: the openness through free trade agree- Aziz Akhennouch. Thus, during the
regulatory barriers.” The message value of industrial exports has mul- ments that have given it the oppor- first half of 2024, the industrial sec-
is clear and direct. Ahmed Réda tiplied by six, increasing from 61 tunity to access over 2.3 billion tor (including crafts) created 92,000
Chami, president of the Economic, billion dirhams (USD 6 billion) in consumers,” said the Head of Go- jobs, surpassing that of the services
Social, and Environmental Council 1999 to 376 billion dirhams (USD vernment, highlighting the creation sector. o Badra Berrissoule &
(CESE), did not mince words. “We 37 billion) in 2023. Additionally, of 22 new industrial acceleration
need to eliminate permits and retain Morocco has increased the number zones (ZAI’s) in eight regions and El hadji Mamadou GUEYE
them only in vital sectors. We should of its industrial enterprises, which
replace long procedures with speci- rose from 4,500 in 1999 to around
What Business Leaders Think

Further Development of Local Solutions “WE overall display an in- expressed hope that industrial inte-

tegration rate of 69%, on par with gration will extend to various sec-
RYAD Mezzour, Minister of petitiveness comparable to that of Germany and Japan,” said Chakib tors. “We must adopt the same logic
Industry and Trade, noted that the China,” the minister proudly stated. Alj, president of the Moroccan em- for textiles and agribusiness, where
industry has generated 816 billion In the aeronautics sector, the 150 ployers association (CGEM). The countries like Turkey and China
dirhams in exports over the past 25 operators established in Morocco business leader noted that in 2023, manage to achieve rates exceeding
years. The minister also provided exported 23 billion dirhams in the industry recorded a notable in- 70%.” Alj stressed the need to de-
details on the sector’s automotive 2023. “The integration rate of the crease in its exports, reaching 429 velop more local solutions to secure
performance: Morocco has become sector exceeds 42%,” insisted the billion dirhams, compared to 329 supply chains. “The establishment
the leading car producer in Africa, minister. Reflecting on the achieve- billion in 2021. “A high-perfor- of a national strategy for enhancing
with 148 billion dirhams (USD 15 ments of the past 25 years, Mezzour ming and export-oriented industry Moroccan production, particularly
billion) in exports and a 69% inte- highlighted that the Moroccan in- does not only help rebalance our through a ‘Made in Morocco’ label,
gration rate in 2023. “In reality, dustry generates 2 billion dirhams trade balance; it also strengthens constitutes an important lever,” he
the Kingdom currently produces a in daily turnover and 1 billion di- the stability and resilience of our added saying.o
car every minute and boasts com- rhams in daily export turnover.o currency,” declared Alj. He further

Friday 18 October 2024