The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) wants to accelerate the transition to a growth model driven more by private investment and national production. During the “Entrepreneurs en mouvement” forum, held on October 17, 2026 in Casablanca, its president, Mehdi Tazi, announced the relaunch of the industrial project bank, initially developed by the Ministry of Industry. The objective: to identify investment opportunities, mobilize private operators, and develop activities capable of meeting domestic demand, particularly through import substitution.
This initiative comes as the private sector’s contribution to national investment remains limited to about a third, according to estimates provided by the CGEM president. After several decades marked by the development of public infrastructure, the business community believes that companies must now play a larger role in investment efforts and in transforming the productive fabric.
From cost competitiveness to added value
For Mehdi Tazi, the Moroccan industrial model must take a new step. While GDP has quadrupled in twenty-five years and exports have multiplied by seven, the consolidation of these achievements now requires a shift towards higher value-added activities. The automotive industry, with a local integration rate of up to 65%, and the aerospace industry, where it exceeds 40%, illustrate this evolution. The CGEM aims to extend this momentum to other sectors to increase the share of value added produced locally. Energy competitiveness is also a priority: the Confederation president believes that the deployment of renewable energies could reduce electricity costs to 0.50 dirhams per kilowatt-hour, a level that could enhance the Kingdom’s industrial attractiveness.
SMEs: diversifying sources of financing
Industrial revival also requires better access to financing. The CGEM advocates for increased mobilization of the banking sector and the development of debt and equity funds tailored to the needs of very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The goal is to facilitate financing for equipment, innovation, and increased production capacity.
On the regulatory front, Mehdi Tazi proposes replacing, when possible, prior authorizations with specifications, while maintaining controls and sanctions in case of rule violations. He also calls for better oversight of administrative refusals, with motivated decisions made within defined timeframes. The CGEM also demands a quick refund of overpaid taxes and a revision of customs duties on imported raw materials and components, in order not to penalize local industries against foreign finished products.
Developing new sectors
Beyond established sectors, the business community identifies several growth drivers, including rail transport, defense industry, data centers, and artificial intelligence-related technologies. Their growth should expand Morocco’s industrial base and strengthen its productive sovereignty. Internationally, the CGEM also aims to encourage Moroccan companies to consolidate their positions in Europe and take advantage of opportunities in the African market. The development of intra-African trade, which represents about 15% of the continent’s trade according to figures presented at the forum, is another growth lever.
Through this relaunch, the CGEM seeks to bring industrial opportunities closer to investors and strengthen the role of the private sector in growth. The challenge now is to transform these guidelines into funded projects, additional production capacities, and sustainable jobs.
