Morocco Spotlights Inspiring Leadership of Women in Industrial Sphere

Rabat – In an effort to honor and draw attention to the vital role that female leaders play in the Moroccan economy, Maroc Magazine held the sixth edition of “Les Matinees de l’Industrie” event on April 1 in Casablanca.

This year, the event made a triumphant comeback with its special Ramadan edition called “Les IndustriELLES Du Maroc.” Present at the event was Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour who acknowledged Moroccan women as “powerful” forces behind value creation in the industrial sector.

“Women represent a powerful lever for value creation, but we need to redouble our efforts to enable them to take on more responsibilities,” the minister stated in his opening speech.

Hicham Rahioui, President and Founder of the Industrie du Maroc Magazine

The role of women in Morocco’s industrial sector

In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Hanane Belyagou, Director of Statistics, Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation for Maroc Magazine commented on the large prevalence that women have in the industrial sector, adding that in 2023, they made up 44 percent of the industrial employees. She noted that this is “a number that bears witness to their unquestionable everyday contribution to value creation.”

However, in percentage terms, Managing Director of Technopark Lamiae Benmakhlouf, who also spoke to MWN, added that women hold only 16% in start-up projects, noting that efforts must be made to support female investment in industry.

Benmakhlouf stressed that this “challenging” number will significantly increase in the future because “we have great assets.” In addition, the percentage of female graduates in Morocco is at 55%, which, according to Benmakhlouf, is “a great potential that must be exploited.”

Lamiae Benmakhlouf, Managing Director of Technopark

Panel discussions of success stories and helpful tips

Benmakhlouf was one of the women who participated in the panel discussions during the event, where she joined other female leaders in sharing success stories. These women traced their integration and contributions in the industrial and economic domains, thus augmenting the Kingdom’s influence.

Other role models included the General Manager Reminex at Managem group, Naoual Zine; President and Managing Director of Maroc Force Emploi, Khadija Tamda; and Managing Director of Nestle Maroc, Imane Zaoui.

Over the course of three panels, the participating women offered some recommendations to raise awareness and find ways to boost the proportion of women in the Moroccan industry.

Panel discussion

They also shared tips for educating those in the workforce on how men and women approach leadership, such as allowing women to choose their own work schedules that fit with their responsibilities as mothers and wives.

Awards ceremony to honor women in the industry

During this memorable event, an awards ceremony was held to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of women who are trailblazers in their fields. Each trophy symbolized the recipients’ indisputable contributions to Morocco’s industrial and economic progress.

“We are delighted to pay tribute to the women leaders who have shaped the Moroccan economy in remarkable ways,” Hicham Rahioui, President and Founder of the Industrie du Maroc Magazine, said during the ceremonial remarks, also stressing that “these trophies are a tangible expression of our recognition for their excellence and dedication.”

One such recipient was Imane Zaoui, Managing Director of Nestle Maroc. Upon receiving the trophy, she expressed her joy, stating that “it is an honor to receive this trophy that I consider a fitting tribute to all women working in the industrial sector.”

Rewarding successful women

In her role at Nestle Maroc Zaoui says she spares no effort in encouraging women to work in the industrial sector. She said in her remarks that “because our nation has lofty goals for the development of its industry, the role that women play in it is crucial and something we cannot ignore.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Maroc Magazine advertised a forthcoming event that will focus on how the new industrial era protects sovereignty. The event will take place between June 26-28 in the northern city of Tangier.