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Agadir – Morocco signed two memoranda of understanding today during the National Trade Forum in Marrakech, aiming at boosting competitiveness, accelerating digitalization, and creating employment opportunities.
The first memorandum brings together Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC) Director General Abdellah Ahouich, and One Retail CEO Hicham Kettani.
It aims to establish an operational framework to support the sector’s development by promoting job creation, strengthening skills training aligned with labor market needs, and mobilizing employment support mechanisms.
The second agreement focuses on advancing the digital transformation of local commerce. It was signed by Mezzour alongside Al Amine Nejjar, chairman of Al Barid Bank, Mohamed Adil Chraibi, CEO of Barid Cash, and Ismail Belkhayat, head of Chari.ma
This partnership seeks to accelerate the integration of small merchants into Morocco’s digital and financial ecosystem. It targets the adoption of electronic payment systems and digital management tools by nearly 100,000 local traders, while also expanding access to tailored financial services.
In his address, Mezzour emphasized the strategic importance of the sector, stating that “the trade sector enjoys the high royal attention,” while underlining that “the small trader remains an irreplaceable pivotal actor at the social and economic levels.”
He also highlighted the progress made through stakeholder collaboration, noting that the forum has produced 1,500 recommendations in partnership with professional chambers and institutional actors, “about 80% of which were implemented.”
Providing further insight into infrastructure development, the minister said Morocco currently has 1,200 markets, with work underway to complete an additional 289. Mezzour described this effort as part of a broader vision to promote modern markets in both rural and urban areas, reflecting what he referred to as “one-speed Morocco.”
On digital transformation, Mezzour announced the creation of an incubator for Moroccan digital solutions tailored to local merchants. He also pointed to a reduction in electronic payment costs, from 1.7% to 0.8%, achieved through cooperation with banking and fintech partners, alongside a state-backed initiative to support the first 100,000 merchants adopting these tools.
Addressing regulatory reforms, the minister noted that some commercial activities may soon require only a permit instead of a license, adding that discussions are ongoing with the Interior Ministry to facilitate this shift.
He concluded by stressing the importance of collective engagement, stating that coordinated efforts among public and private stakeholders are essential to building “Morocco 2030 and the trade of tomorrow,” and to meeting upcoming national economic milestones.
