Morocco’s Business Leaders Warn Against New Lockdown, Urge Economic Support

Thus, the confederation calls for "freeing" the economy so that it can restart as best as possible. It proposes in particular the acceleration of sectoral and support measures for all sectors in difficulty. Demand, the main driver of growth, should also pick up again.

The CGEM suggests frequent and standardized audits by the public authorities; this would prevent closure decisions without notice. For the employers’ association, the State must break with the classic budgetary orthodoxy given the exceptional nature of the year. "Let’s give the necessary allowances to preserve the companies," stresses Abdelmajid Faiz, vice-president of the Tax and Customs Commission.

The CGEM’s tax proposals include in particular the review of the taxation of certain inputs, in order "to promote national production," says Faiz.

The CGEM is committed to mandatory mask wearing in public, including in businesses. Effective controls must be organized and fines effective in case of non-compliance. Private clinics and personnel must be involved, under the control of the public hospital.

For the CGEM, we cannot do without a climate of trust through the improvement of the legal framework, in view of the recurring complaints of companies that complain of receiving notifications of significant amounts before they are revised downwards, at the end of the negotiations.

Financing for VSEs and SMEs is imperative with the proposal to move towards sectoral funds for financing through the injection of equity and the non-distribution of dividends.

Finally, national preference through the adaptation of products to the market, in a context of relocation. The employers’ association is awaiting new measures on imports to allow companies to market their products on the local market and be much more competitive. These measures should be accompanied by changes in VAT as growth will come through the revival of household consumption.