Following over a decade of high growth rates in the wake of liberalisation efforts in the late 1990s, Morocco’s telecoms sector is currently experiencing a slower rate of expansion. As operators and mobile users adopt new forms of mobile communication, the kingdom’s market is progressively moving away from the traditional voice-based business model. This is leading to new challenges in…
Contributing 8.1% to GDP and accounting for 7.1% of total employment in 2016, tourism evidently holds an important place in Morocco’s economy, even though the sector has faced some challenging times. This has largely been due to difficult external environments dampening travel from traditional source markets, though there is evidence that the sector’s outlook is improving. It is hoped that…
With successive governments expanding the role that the ICT industry can play in economic development, Morocco’s efforts to develop the sector have produced noticeable results. Growing ICT and telecoms usage and a domestic cluster of offshoring firms have allowed the sector to create employment and make a larger contribution to exports. Government policy has also focused on increasing the…
Although the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis can still be felt in Morocco’s real estate sector, signs of recovery are being seen in certain segments. While high-end housing and luxury developments took a hit, prices for quality developments have remained steady, as foreigners, domestic consumers and Moroccans living abroad continue to look to real estate as a secure investment…
Importing the vast majority of its energy, Morocco continues to rely heavily on fossil fuel-based imports. In recent years, the kingdom has made concerted efforts to reduce its energy dependence, implementing renewable energy projects, and introducing an oil and gas exploration programme. It has devised a new and ambitious energy strategy, which promotes the development of renewable energy…
Improved connectivity is a key pillar of Morocco’s economic development strategy. Internally, better road and rail links can improve the business environment by reducing transport costs and spreading economic development nationwide. Upgrades will prove particularly effective in bringing investment to more isolated regions. Externally, the marked increase in air and maritime connectivity since…
Supported by housing demand and infrastructure plans, Morocco’s construction companies have been able to maintain steady performances despite the negative effects of a host of local and international factors. The economic downturn in Europe and regional instability have dampened investment flows to the sector in recent years, while lower levels of credit to the real estate industry from banks…
As average incomes expand along with Morocco’s middle class, the retail sector is seeing a rising number of opportunities for development. Large-scale outlets have become the norm in several of the kingdom’s major cities, and while less-formal commerce still accounts for a large proportion of sales, the movement towards modern retail is underpinned by stable economic fundamentals that are…
In the wake of the Arab Spring, Moroccan citizens approved a new constitution by a landslide vote in July 2011. This promised a range of new rights, including universal health care and access to quality health services. The authorities have since taken a number of steps to increase coverage, reduce costs, improve service quality, and extend services in rural and otherwise isolated areas. However,…
For nearly two decades, Morocco has been widely commended for its ongoing efforts to support and attract investment. Accordingly, the kingdom’s institutions are amending and adopting several measures to modernise its legal framework and thereby increase its appeal as an investment destination. In turn, the state is supporting major private sector players in Morocco in the formation of industrial…
