In his answer to a question on “the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises”, presented by the group of the National Rally of Independents, during the session of oral questions in the Chamber of Councillors, the Minister made it known that small and medium-sized companies employ approximately 74% of employees declared to the National Social Security Fund and contribute to the national economy, with 38% of added value, and 26% of export turnover.
As for the number of auto-entrepreneurs, it is 300,000, of which less than 24% are women, he added.
Sekkouri also emphasized the problem of financing which several companies are facing, referring in this sense to the “significant assessment” of the “Intelaka” program as well as the difficulties he has encountered which, according to him, “are not not difficulties at the level of the program, but difficulties related to the structure and the support of small and medium-sized enterprises”.
He also noted that only 12% of SMEs have access to bank financing, which constitutes a “structural” problem, noting that public investment is among the solutions allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from financing.
The Minister, in the same direction, mentioned the amendments of the decree relating to public procurement, allowing self-employed entrepreneurs to participate in calls for tenders, and to simplify a set of procedures relating to calls for tenders of less than 5 MDH, in addition other guarantees, adding that the ministry has drawn up the decree relating to the support of small and very small enterprises within the framework of investment.