Morocco Slashes Red Tape: 45% Fewer Documents for Investors in Bold Economic Reform

Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, specified in response to a written question from Councilor Khalid Satti of the National Union of Labor in Morocco that this simplification is accompanied by the administrative deconcentration of 15 investment-related procedures at the local level to accelerate decision-making.

The Minister announced the launch of a strategic roadmap for the 2023-2026 period, aimed at improving the structural conditions for investment and removing the obstacles that hinder its development. This initiative aims to improve the business climate to stimulate domestic and foreign investment, particularly that of Moroccans living abroad.

The roadmap is based on four pillars:

• Improving the structural conditions of the investment and entrepreneurship process,
• Supporting national competitiveness through financing, access to land and renewable energies,
• Developing a favorable environment for entrepreneurship and innovation,
• Establishing the values of ethics, integrity and corruption prevention. It includes 46 initiatives, 98% of which have been initiated with a 60% implementation rate.

The ministry, in collaboration with the sectors concerned, has launched a project to improve and simplify the investor’s journey from start to finish. This approach aims to streamline the investment process and improve the quality of services offered to investors by reducing direct contact points between the investor and the administration to obtain the necessary authorizations.

Zidane confirmed that "Moroccans living abroad receive special attention from the high royal solicitude, materialized by the instructions of King Mohammed VI for the creation of an appropriate mechanism responsible for accompanying Moroccan skills and talents abroad, and supporting their initiatives and projects, in order to increase the contribution of Moroccans living abroad to the development of productive investment".

In this context, the government has set up a thematic commission to encourage investments by Moroccans living abroad and has developed a roadmap to strengthen their support by all stakeholders in all regions and provinces of the kingdom.

Moroccans living abroad currently represent 10% of total private investment. The ministry works interactively and continuously to facilitate their investments and remove the obstacles they may encounter. The measures include strengthening communication with Moroccans living abroad to make them aware of the available investment opportunities and the incentives provided for in the new Investment Pact.

The ministry maintains permanent contact with thousands of Moroccan investors established abroad in various promising economic sectors. It organizes special meetings with Moroccans residing abroad during each promotional tour organized outside the kingdom.

To strengthen the support, a dedicated cell for the reception, guidance and support of Moroccans living abroad has been created within the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (Desk Moroccans Abroad). The regional investment centers have designated specific contact points for Moroccans residing abroad.

The ministry is currently developing its digital platforms to better meet the needs of Moroccans living abroad and ensures immediate handling of the difficulties encountered in their investment projects, in constant coordination with the other ministerial departments concerned.