Morocco to Launch 12 Modern Wholesale Markets to Combat Food Inflation

The implementation of this project requires close collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior and the other government departments responsible for agriculture, commerce and industry. Their common goal is to develop wholesale markets for vegetables and fruits. This collaboration has already materialized in 2020 with the signing of a partnership agreement, laying the foundations for the establishment of the twelve regional wholesale markets, equipped with the necessary modern equipment and services.

The construction of a regional wholesale market in Rabat, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, is already underway. This pilot project should be completed by the end of the year. Subsequently, the plan provides for the realization of four other similar markets in the regions of Fès-Meknès, the Oriental, Marrakech-Safi and Souss-Massa, with technical studies financed by the Ministry of the Interior.

In addition, the Ministry of the Interior has undertaken a reform of the legal framework concerning the wholesale markets of fruits and vegetables, in collaboration with all the ministries concerned. This reform, materialized by a ministerial decree, aims at the organization, creation and rehabilitation of these structures, as well as the modernization of the equipment and services offered. The objective is to overcome the current management methods, sources of aggravation of the problems in the sector.

The ultimate objective of these new wholesale markets is to ensure a fluid and transparent marketing of food products and to put an end to certain harmful practices. It is also planned that measures will be taken to encourage more professional management of the weekly markets. The ministry is committed to the radical restructuring of all the weekly markets in the Kingdom, so that they can fully play their vital role in the revitalization of the economic, cultural and social cycle.