Industry & Retail
From The Report: Morocco 2013
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After experiencing a dip in growth from 2008 to 2010, the industrial sector is expanding once again, with government initiatives being put in place to boost value-added sectors such as aeronautics, automotive production and textiles. The industrial sector accounted for 32.3% of GDP and 23.8% of employment in 2011. A new development plan, the National Pact for Industrial Emergence, promises to create 220,000 new jobs in the sector, as well as an €8.44bn increase in exports and a €4.44bn rise in foreign investment. The diverse range of activities, combined with these new initiatives, bode well for growth and employment across the sector.

This chapter includes interviews with Saïda Lamrani Karim, Vice-President, Groupe Safari; Guy Hachey, President, Bombardier Aerospace; and Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, President, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Hitting the target: Ambitious goals and increasingly open markets bode well for the future
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Toughened by internal and external liberalisation measures, Morocco’s industrial sector is experiencing a solid recovery following a dip in growth from 2008-10. Government initiatives to bolster strategic value-added sectors, notably in manufacturing segments such as aeronautics, automotive production and textiles, have also been instrumental in attracting foreign investment and reviving growth. The uptick in output bodes well for job creation rates as well, which is crucial for a country that…

Interview

OBG talks to Saïda Lamrani Karim, Vice-President, Groupe Safari
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Interview: Saïda Lamrani Karim What impact has the economic crisis in Europe had on the development of Morocco’s industry? SAIDA LAMRANI KARIM: First of all, Morocco has had a privileged partnership with the EU for some time, drawing benefit from its “advanced status” agreement. To some extent, the crisis in Europe does in fact present an opportunity for Morocco. Already we are seeing that investors are coming to Morocco and looking for new markets or new locations for production facilities. We…

Interview

OBG talks to Guy Hachey, President, Bombardier Aerospace
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Interview: Guy Hachey What are some of the benefits of investing in a greenfield manufacturing facility in Morocco? GUY HACHEY: Over the last decade, the aerospace industry has expanded, opening new markets and new opportunities. This has enabled companies to improve cost competitiveness while reducing reliance on third parties for aircraft components. For us, the choice of Morocco was driven by a number of factors, not just proximity to our existing manufacturing facilities in Europe. These…

Analysis

A picture of health: Despite setbacks, local producers have maintained high standards
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Estimated to be the second largest on the African continent after South Africa, Morocco’s pharmaceuticals sector is highly developed relative to many of its African neighbours. Currently, there are 32 pharmaceuticals plants present in the country, producing 293m units of drugs in 2011. However, most plants are limited in size, and for this reason steps will be taken in the coming years to better consolidate production facilities. NEED TO DEVELOP: “There is a lot of manufacturing occurring…

Interview

OBG talks to Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, President, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM)
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Interview: Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun How would you characterise the relations between CGEM and the country’s unions? MIRIEM BENSALAH CHAQROUN: Since the arrival of the new government, CGEM has tried to create an environment in which we can speak frankly. We have proposed a social pact to the unions to promote sustainable competitiveness. This agreement also affects how business is conducted in Morocco, and is important because we are dealing more and more with strong, committed unions and we have…

Analysis

Picking up speed: Generous incentives and demographic changes mean new prospects
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After several years of negotiations and preparation, Morocco is set to see a significant jump in car production following the inauguration of French carmaker Renault’s new Melloussa plant in February 2012. Spanning 280 ha, this €1bn plant is the largest automotive factory in North Africa and in its first 10 months of operation churned out over 100,000 cars. Production is due to increase in the next two years, with the plant boasting a maximum capacity of 400,000 vehicles per year once the…

Analysis

Taking off: International aerospace firms are looking to set up operations locally
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In the past 10 years, Morocco has emerged as an increasingly competitive base for aeronautic production. The kingdom’s aeronautic industry began to take off in earnest in 2001 when US manufacturer Boeing established a small operation preparing cables for Boeing 737 jets in coordination with the French electrical wiring producer Labinal SA. According to press reports at the time, Boeing managers were initially sceptical over the feasibility of the project, expecting productivity rates of only…

Overview

Shop ‘til you drop: The growth of the middle class is changing spending habits
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Increased exposure to international retailers, rising purchasing power and continuing urbanisation has led to a rapid evolution in Moroccan urban consumer habits. Though the local market remains fragmented and suffers from a large informal market, multinational retailers are increasingly investing in brand development, contemporary retail spaces and more developed supply chains to tap into a burgeoning middle class and a growing interest in high-quality products. In 2012 Morocco was named…