Rabat – Morocco’s minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour has said that the country’s industrial sector showed notable achievements despite the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to oral questions at the House of Councilors on “the prospects and challenges of industrial policy in Morocco,” Mezzour stressed that Moroccan industry is about to benefit from the geostrategic transformations imposed by the ongoing pandemic.
He added that the industrial ecosystem can innovate by providing several products in various fields, noting that the ministry is working to revive the sector through the restoration of lost jobs.
Mezzour highlighted that they were able to restore 98% of sectoral jobs that existed in 2019 at the end of 2021.
Regarding the automotive sector, the minister revealed that Morocco is considered to be the fifth largest car exporter to Europe, adding that 63% of car parts are manufactured in the kingdom.
There are 250 automotive factories in Morocco that employ 180,000 Moroccans, he added.
Mezzour underlined that Casablanca ranks 12th worldwide in terms of innovation investment in the automotive sector.
Regarding the competitiveness of the world’s leading sectors, he further stressed that the Moroccan industrial ecosystem occupies the third place after India and China.
The minister also noted that Morocco aims to occupy the first place by further strengthening the integration and improving the value of Moroccan products.
Mezzour concluded his speech by highlighting that the ministry has set up a program to identify imports that could potentially be manufactured in Morocco, with a budget of MAD 34 billion ($3.6 billion) as a start to ensure the creation of 190,000 direct jobs.
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