Recognition of Economic Contributions in Agadir
The Souss-Massa Regional Investment Center (CRI) has recently announced the recipients of the inaugural "Investment Awards 2026," honoring businesses across six distinct categories for their significant economic contributions within the region. This prestigious event took place during an awards ceremony last Saturday in Agadir, aimed at recognizing and promoting the impactful investments that have stimulated local economic growth from 2022 to 2025. Notably, the CRI has also achieved ISO 9001 certification, a remarkable milestone as the first of its kind for a CRI in Morocco.
During the awards ceremony, the winners were revealed in front of key economic stakeholders, highlighting exemplary organizations in various thematic categories. The coveted title of "Investor of the Year" was awarded to Aya Gold & Silver, while Agri 4.0 received the award for Innovation. Concentrix was recognized for its contributions to social impact, and Mira Fish won the award for Women's Entrepreneurship. Additionally, Biborne was celebrated as the "Startup of the Year," and Daniland was honored as the "Moroccan Investor Abroad." The jury also acknowledged several companies, including Vetcam, Bouskoura Urban, Silda, CMCP International Paper, Segula Technologies, and Eco Terre for their noteworthy projects.
Investment Growth and Future Prospects
In conjunction with the awards, the CRI Souss-Massa held its board meeting on April 3, adhering to the provisions of Law No. 22-24. This meeting was pivotal as it included the approval of the financial statements for 2025, showcasing a total of 345 approved projects representing an investment volume of approximately 17.35 billion dirhams, which is expected to create over 19,000 jobs. Furthermore, the CRI has enhanced its support for very small, small, and medium enterprises (TPMEs), providing assistance to over 2,390 entrepreneurs, thus invigorating the local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The "Investment Awards 2026" initiative aligns with the new mandates of CRIs, as established by Law No. 47.18, aimed at reforming these entities. The primary goal is to shift territorial promotion efforts into concrete actions that recognize the economic operators within the region. By focusing on "structuring" projects, the CRI aims to highlight successful models that bolster the region’s attractiveness on an international scale. The competition was organized around six specific categories, and eligibility was contingent upon significant economic contributions to the region, compliance with fiscal and regulatory obligations, and the establishment of impactful operations within the region.
The evaluation process employed a technical grid that assessed various indicators, including job creation rates, research and development efforts, digital transition, and territorial integration. The selection procedure commenced with the announcement of the call for applications on February 25, 2026, culminating in the awards ceremony on April 4.
As reported by leseco.ma.
