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Weekly highlights

Ryad Mezzour
The foundations of the new industrial strategy

T HE The Ministry of Industry textiles-clothing, agribusiness, me-
tallurgy, chemicals-parachemistry...
and Trade is currently fina-
lizing the new industrial
Admittedly, some sectors are facing
strategy. This roadmap is based on All lines of business are concerned.
a series of meetings and consulta- more difficulties than others. At the
tions with the employers’ confede- same time, it has to be said that some
ration (CGEM), professional federa- industries are more advanced than
tions, regions and territories, PDRs others, notably the automotive and
(regional development programs), aeronautics sectors, which have rea-
etc. This is a fundamental step in ched levels of maturity never seen
sounding out needs and collecting before. But even for these dynamic
expectations, through the strong sectors, it will be necessary to conso-
mobilization of all public and pri- lidate what has been achieved, to step
vate partners to make Moroccan up the pace and power, and to rein-
industry a catalyst for the creation force competitiveness... «The auto-
of value, wealth, and lasting jobs. motive sector has extremely impor-
As special guest of Atlantic Radio tant development prospects. We are
and interviewed by Rachid M’Bar- working on projects that have the
ki, Minister Ryad Mezzour took is to find new points of agreement added Ryad Mezzour. But above all, potential to transform technological
part in the Q&A session, providing and make choices in order to set up it’s a question of «making the right capacities, export volumes and job
insights and analysis on the indus- new industrial projects», explained choices, with the representatives of creation», said Minister Mezzour.
trial challenges facing Morocco in the Minister. «The challenge, howe- the 12 regions, about the ambitions Today, there are new avenues of de-
the future. «All regions have Regio- ver, is to unleash the energies of a and battles we’re going to wage velopment dictated by the paradigm
nal Development Plans (PDRs). The more ambitious Morocco, to rein- together over the next few years», shift and the challenges of industrial
Ministry has a database and a num- force cutting-edge industrial calling insisted the Minister. sovereignty. o
ber of studies and analyses. The aim ….and to explore new perimeters», Automotive, aeronautics, electronics, AMIN RBOUB

L’Economiste-Sunergia survey

Housing assistance: Moderate enthusiasm for new formula

I T is one of the main mecha- Order of Notaries, in order to secure ministry in charge of the project indi- tance scheme would come into force
nisms of the social deve-
this January? The majority answered
cates that the scheme is proving popu-
real estate transactions and grant direct
lopment major project. The
new housing assistance system was assistance, with rates capped at 2,500 lar. This seems to confirm the results yes. Indeed, 84% of Moroccans are
aware that a new housing assistance
of the recent L’Economiste-Sunergia
dirhams for citizens wishing to acquire
eagerly awaited, especially after the a home costing less than 300,000 survey. Respondents were asked if system has been introduced. Rates are
old social housing program came to dirhams. Initial feedback from the they were aware that a housing assis- virtually the same for both genders.
an end. Today, the new system is up However, per age group, it is mainly
and running. The registration plat- young people over 24, generally first-
form for the direct housing assistance 42% do not intend to sign up time buyers, who are the most infor-
program was launched on January 2. med. 91% of people aged 25-34 and
Spread over 5 years, the new scheme 35-44 are aware of the new scheme.
is expected to mobilize more than 9.5 WHILE most of those The same applies to 90% of 55-64
billion Dirhams (US$ 950 million) per surveyed are aware of the new year-olds and 84% of 45-54 year-olds.
year. In concrete terms, direct grants program, only 32% intend to Those who are not aware of the pro-
of 100,000 dirhams (US$ 10,000) sign up. Of these, 23% said they gram are mainly young people aged
will be awarded for the purchase of would «certainly» sign up, while 18 to 24, 31% of whom are unaware
a home with a selling price less than 9% said they would «probably» of its existence. Per region, the rates
or equal to 300,000 dirhams (US$ do so. Conversely, 42% «pro- are fairly similar, ranging from 81% in
30,000) including tax, and 70,000 bably» won’t. Of those questio- the North and East to 86% in the Cen-
dirhams (US$ 7,000) for homes with ned, 25% were undecided. Per ter of the country. The same applies to
a selling price between 300,000 (US$ gender, the rates are fairly simi- rural and urban areas, with 83% and
30,000) and 700,000 dirhams (US$ lar. 23% of both men and women 84% respectively. Per socio-profes-
70,000) including tax. said they would «definitely» sign sional category, D and E are the least
This platform enables people wishing up for the new scheme. The diffe- informed. 23% of people in this cate-
to benefit from this support to register rences are most apparent among gory are unaware of the new housing
online and track their applications. It those who «probably» do not in- assistance program. People in CSP C
also facilitates data sharing between tend to apply for public housing are the most aware of the existence of
the partners involved. The program is assistance. This rate is 46% for this scheme. o
being rolled out in partnership with the men and 37% for women. o MAM
Friday 12 January 2024