Monday, January 30, 2023 at 10:51 PM
Rabat – The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, assured Monday that work is currently underway for the creation, extension and rehabilitation of approximately 22 new industrial acceleration zones in 8 regions of the Kingdom, on an estimated area to 1,400 hectares, in addition to the launch of work on the Agropole du Loukkos in the province of Larache.
Mr. Akhannouch, who answered a central question on “the policy adopted for the promotion of investment”, during the monthly session of oral questions addressed to the head of government in the House of Representatives, specified that the government is working to support for the development of economic and industrial activity zones in the various regions of the Kingdom, noting that an amount of 37.5 million dirhams (MDH) has been earmarked for the creation and rehabilitation of industrial zones in the provinces Guercif, Jerada and Marrakech, while an amount of 22 MDH was dedicated to industrial zones under study or construction in the provinces of Jerada and Settat.
Given the great importance of the logistics sector in terms of attracting investment, especially at the industrial level, the government has endeavored to continue to implement the national plan for the development of logistics zones in the different regions of the Kingdom, he added, recalling that eight logistics zone master plans have been drawn up in 8 regions, and approved at the local level.
In the same vein, Mr. Akhannouch stressed that the government is working to meet the energy needs of companies, noting that a bill relating to the self-production of electrical energy has been approved with the aim of developing the decentralized production of electricity. electrical energy, and to improve the competitiveness of the electricity sector while ensuring that administrative procedures and procedures are simplified.
On the other hand, he stressed that the government attaches particular importance to the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in economic recovery and sustainable and inclusive economic and social development, referring in this context to the establishment of a set of exceptional measures to mitigate the effects of rising prices and the scarcity of raw materials on the contractual obligations of companies in the context of public procurement, in order to ensure the continuity of their activities and their competitiveness.
He said that 18,000 projects have been admitted under the “Forsa” program, and that the training and support phases have been initiated, noting that 10,000 projects have received the first tranche of support.
Mr. Akhannouch also indicated that the government has raised the guarantee ceiling in the context of financing for SMEs, and has reprogrammed Relance and Oxygen credits to cover a period of up to 3 years, adding that the program “Awrach ” has made it possible to offer employment contracts to approximately 101,700 beneficiaries, 26% of whom are women, thanks to the participation of more than 5,200 associations and cooperatives.