Morocco Unveils Plan to Revitalize Cooperative Sector Amid Economic Challenges

Upgrading the supply, stimulating demand and developing an entrepreneurial and excellence culture... These are the pillars of the cooperative revival plan, reports Aujourd’hui le Maroc. This is the necessary step for this sector, which has been tested in both raw material supply and production and marketing, due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The implementation of this revival, which is completely at odds with the culture of welfare assistance that prevailed in the sector, involves the mobilization of public, private and civil society actors.

They "could contribute in a spirit of solidarity and support, to the direct purchase and consumption of Moroccan handicraft and cooperative products; to the use of ’cultural’ gift vouchers for Moroccan handicraft products for the benefit of employees and the inclusion of an artisanal component (products or building) in investment projects," says Youssef Hosni, director of the Office of Development and Cooperation (ODCO).

There is also participation in regional funds for the upgrading and targeted support of craftsmen and cooperatives through financing mechanisms, guarantees and/or subsidies based on calls for projects for identified sectors, particularly in rural areas. This is in addition to support in the integration and/or implementation of digital marketing platforms for handicraft and cooperative products.