In the current difficult context marked by many uncertainties, the Attijariwafa bank group has been pursuing its support policy, since 2014, towards the essential links of the Moroccan economy, which are in particular SMEs, VSEs, traders and other craftsmen. As such, the Group plans in 2022 a substantial envelope of 30 billion dirhams of financing for SMEs and VSEs.
This envelope will be broken down into 60,000 new credits to be granted in order to enable them to meet operating needs, relieve their cash flow, maintain, where appropriate, planned investments or even launch new projects, despite a difficult economic situation linked to geopolitical tensions at the international level and the rainfall deficit at the national level, specifies the banking operator.
In addition to this commitment, the Attijariwafa bank group is fully in line with the deployment of new TAMWILCOM measures in response to the difficulties caused by the current economic situation in order to benefit companies that have taken out loans guaranteed by the “Damane Oxygène” and “Damane Relance”, and those with new operating needs and investment projects.
Read also | Antony Blinken’s trip to Morocco, under the sign of security and prosperity commitments
These measures concern the extension of the duration of loans guaranteed by the “Damane Oxygène” and “Damane Relance” mechanisms by a maximum of 3 years and the raising of the guarantee ceilings per transaction and per counterparty of the “Damane Attasyir” and “Damane Istitmar” schemes. . A special mechanism has also been put in place for operators in the tourism sector by extending the maturities of medium and long-term credits.
In 2021, the balance sheet for the year shows the granting, by the Attijariwafa bank group, of 55,000 new loans to VSMEs for a total amount of more than 26 billion DH, including 10.4 billion DH for VSEs and 15.6 billion DH for SMEs. This funding has contributed to the dynamics of reviving activities for a return to pre-covid levels despite some disparities between sectors, but also to the realization of new business creation projects.
Read also | World Bank grants $180 million loan to Morocco to support sustainable agriculture
Attijariwafa bank which is also pursuing its policy of supporting and promoting state programs. Thus, the release of “Recovery” credits has been continued and the total amount granted amounts to 13.7 billion DH since the implementation of this support measure. In addition, the financing granted by Attijariwafa bank under the “Damane Express” program represented in 2021, 75% of the loans granted by the banking sector for an envelope exceeding 1.8 billion DH.
With regard to the “Damane Atassyir” and “Damane Istitmar” guarantee mechanisms, the level of financing amounted to more than 7.15 billion DH. At the end of 2021, the “Intelaka” program, for its part, enabled the financing of more than 12,000 young people and project leaders for an amount of 2.7 billion DH, which corresponds to 41% of the total loans granted by the banking sector under this initiative.
Lastly, the bank supported 39% of the beneficiaries of the “Istitmar” and “Tatwir Green Growth” investment assistance programs. In addition to financing, Attijariwafa bank has intensified its non-financial support for VSMEs with dedicated systems. Thus, 2021 saw the birth of the “Business Centers” concept, a new branch model dedicated to SMEs, offering a redesigned customer journey to access banking and financial services under the best conditions and new support services with a view to to develop their business.
Read also | Attijariwafa bank named best investment bank in Morocco
This new initiative complements and strengthens the “Dar Al Moukawil” network in place since 2016 and which has 16 centers across the Kingdom to support VSEs, traders and craftsmen. This network ensured the registration of 105,000 auto-entrepreneurs.
Dar Al Moukawil has also supported more than 160,000 project leaders and entrepreneurs with the training of 40,500 Very Small Enterprises, traders and craftsmen, 14,000 advice interviews and the realization of numerous business opportunities thanks to the organization of B2B.
The banking operator, which specifies that the non-financial services of the “Business Centers” and “Dar Al Moukawil” are also available on digital platforms – daralmoukawil.com and attijarientreprises.com – to broaden access to as many beneficiaries as possible.