Is "Made in Morocco" the future of the Moroccan economy? In many sectors, initiatives aimed at promoting the consumption of local products follow one another. A real challenge.
A true spearhead of “economic patriotism”, the “Made in Morocco” label is taking its mark. Presented on October 11, 2021 before the Moroccan parliament, which adopted this program which extends until 2026, this label aims to promote "local consumption" in the country, but also to impose Morocco as a producer. of weight in the North African region, indeed in the world.
To do this, the program provides for legislative and financial adjustments. In order to promote “Made in Morocco”, it is necessary to encourage national investors and simplify administrative procedures for obtaining the label as much as possible.
The government's objective is, initially, to reduce the kingdom's dependence on imports. These represent a total of 3,6 billion dollars. Limiting imports would, according to initial forecasts, create more than 100 jobs.
But this requires a revision of free trade agreements. The press describes them as “unfair international competition”.
Morocco bets on digital
In several sectors, entrepreneurs are taking note of the program. L' webplus agency of digital development (ADD) accelerated the execution of the Maroc Digital 2020 program, which aims to digitize 50% of administrative procedures and connect at least 20% of the country's SMEs, which were not previously, to the internet.
The Moroccan authorities want to advocate the acceleration of administrative procedures for obtaining licenses or income declarations, protecting the country's cash and currency reserves, but also promoting local products.
On January 14, the Moroccan Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Ghita Mezzour, announced the launch of MoroccoTech. With a large panel of large public and private companies that will participate in the project, the objective will be to "promote the Moroccan digital economy, including national players".
It is precisely because Morocco has a digital ecosystem conducive to investment that the Cherifian kingdom can afford to encourage and welcome even more national startups, digitize industrial activity and digitize its administrations.
As a reminder, Morocco launched last year, within the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the largest data center in Africa. A supercomputer with 69 processors, 000 servers and huge storage capacity.
“Made in Morocco” vehicles
The progressive digitization of the Moroccan administration will also make it possible to accelerate the “Made in Morocco” branding in the industrial sectors, in particular those of the automobile and pharmaceutical products.
The installation in Morocco of the Chinese group Citic Dicastal has made it possible to revitalize the automobile sector which, despite foreign funds, makes it possible to employ a Moroccan workforce and management. A third car factory was inaugurated in Kenitra.
Enough to put pressure on the Renault and Stellantis groups, and encourage competition in the Moroccan automotive sector, which saw its exports of "Made in Morocco" vehicles increase by 18% in 2021 compared to the previous year.
The Moroccan automobile industry, governed by the 2010 law promulgating the nationalization of the sector, obliges manufacturers, even foreign ones, to recruit local labour. This allows in particular to affix the “Made in Morocco” label on industrial products assembled in the country.
Pharmaceutical production, a strategic sector
As Morocco is gradually emerging from the Covid-19 health crisis, the implementation of universal medical coverage, promised by Mohamed VI in 2020, is imposing a revolution in the pharmaceutical sector.
The construction of the Benslimane vaccine factory, in Casablanca, was launched on January 27th. But as the press explains, this project will not produce vaccines from A to Z. It is a "fill and finish" unit of the associated pharmaceutical groups. Moroccan ambitions in the pharmaceutical sector go beyond partnerships with international groups.
According to Dr. Anwar Cherkaoui, "the drug sector is a financial abyss for the entire care management and reimbursement system".
The Moroccan specialist recalls that the Moroccan government, through the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP) has already initiated a program for the production of 100% Moroccan medicines and vaccines.
"The strategy of the FMIIP has put in black and white the reforms to be undertaken in the pharmaceutical sector, obviously with the support and accompaniment of the supervisory authorities, therefore of the Moroccan State", concludes Anwar Cherkaoui.
Another sector with undeniable strategic importance, on which Morocco intends to focus in the coming months.