Morocco Pushes National Preference in Public Procurement to Boost Economy

Very weakly, or almost not at all applied in public procurement, the notion of national preference is now one of the alternatives to balance the balance sheet and raise the economic fabric, severely affected by the health crisis, indicates EcoActu. Also, the Head of Government, through a new circular dated November 25 (which replaces the one of September 10, which remained without effect), instructs the departments to apply national preference and encourage Moroccan products as part of public procurement, for the benefit of Moroccan companies, cooperatives, cooperative groups, local authorities and self-employed workers.

This time, observes the same source, the measures and mechanisms for the effectiveness of "let’s consume local" are clearly defined. Project owners are required to give priority to Moroccan products and materials, mainly traditional and manufactured ones. They have the obligation to introduce the explicit mention of the application of Moroccan standards or other standards applicable in Morocco, under international agreements, in the clauses, specifications and specifications of contracts awarded by the State or its subsidiaries, details the site. Establishments and companies not subject to Decree 2-12-349 are called upon to accelerate the introduction of national preference in their special tender regimes.

The circular of the Head of Government specifies that both project owners within the framework of public contracts and the administration, local authorities as well as public establishments and companies, will be required to present administrative certificates containing justifications in the event of the application of international standards contrary to the aforementioned characteristics. The same goes for resorting to imports of products, concludes the media.