Morocco Launches New Regional Investment Centers Next Week, Minister Announces

The law on RICs is at the top of the expected reforms. With the legislative aspect completed, everyone is waiting for its implementation. Recalling the problems of the RICs, Abdelouafi Laftit explained that "investors had different demands from the RIC offers.

For example, in the last 5 or 6 years, the RICs have become machines for making exemptions. The future RICs will no longer give exemptions for real estate... We are stopping this practice..." , the Minister cuts short, to show all the seriousness surrounding the matter.

Among the changes made to the working method of the new RICs mentioned by the minister, there is the establishment of unified regional investment commissions. From now on, the operator will appear only once before this Commission, instead of several times as in the past," insists the minister.

According to Medias24, the other major novelty remains focused on "the decisions which, from now on, will be taken by a majority instead of unanimity. "We have recorded the fact that a file be accepted even if part of the administration does not agree," reveals the Minister.

He also recalls the creation, within the RICs, of cells responsible for listening to and supporting investors who are facing difficulties. But the major announcement is that of the installation of the first RICs. "The first RICs will be launched next week. Their bosses will be appointed on Thursday," reveals the Minister of the Interior.

According to the site, the Minister of the Interior also provided some clarification on other ongoing reforms, including that of collective lands. "The direct transfer of this land to the private sector will be possible in a few weeks," the Minister specifies, while stating that all public lands located on the outskirts of cities and which were previously coveted for real estate projects will be exclusively reserved for productive projects.

For such major reforms, administrative procedures need to be simplified. The Minister said that a law is underway to force the administration’s hand in this direction.

"In general, we are working to simplify life for businesses, to create an atmosphere of trust. We need it because it is the only way to move forward," concludes the Minister of the Interior, after stating "that no act concerning investment will remain in Rabat, all acts will be deconcentrated at the regional level... we will get there...".