Financial Inclusion Achieved a 60% Coverage in Rural Access Points
On April 24, 2026, in a significant announcement made during the 18th International Agricultural Fair in Meknes, Abdellah Bouazza, the Director General of Bank Al-Maghrib, revealed that the coverage rate of access points to financial services in rural areas has improved to 60% in recent years. This milestone highlights the ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between rural and urban financial accessibility. During a seminar focused on the theme 'Financial Inclusion in Rural Areas: A Lever for Sovereign, Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Agriculture', Bouazza underscored that one of the key indicators for measuring the disparity between urban and rural settings is the geographical coverage of access points to financial services.
Despite this progress, it was noted that there are still 450 rural municipalities lacking any access point. Bouazza emphasized the need for enhanced efforts to generalize these services, contingent upon the availability of adequate infrastructure and connectivity. He reiterated that financial inclusion is an ongoing process that demands continuous effort and significant resources. Over the past two decades, Bank Al-Maghrib has been actively engaged in promoting financial inclusion as a means to foster economic development.
In this context, Bouazza highlighted various initiatives, including the establishment of a national mobile payment solution in 2018 and the launch of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy in 2019, which primarily targets rural areas, women, and youth. Furthermore, the introduction of instant bank transfers in 2023 serves as an effective tool to meet the diverse needs of different demographic segments.
Mohamed Tarek Bchir, the Acting Director of Treasury and External Finance at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, also noted that Morocco has maintained a modern and stable financial system since 2010, supported by regulatory reforms and infrastructure compliant with international standards. However, he acknowledged that disparities persist, particularly in rural areas, where access to financial services remains insufficient.
Bchir pointed out the achievements realized through programs such as 'Initiative' and 'Opportunity', especially within the agricultural sector in rural regions. These programs have demonstrated tangible effects on local development, exceeding mere statistics by fostering agricultural investment and local economic growth. He stressed the importance of enhancing the actual use of financial services, indicating that the next phase will focus on a sectoral and demographic approach targeting women, rural areas, and very small enterprises to encourage daily and practical use of financial services, particularly digital payments.
This seminar, which also featured remarks from Ahmed El Bouari, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, provided a genuine platform for dialogue and consultation among stakeholders from both public and private sectors. Its objective was to identify innovative solutions, promote suitable financial instruments, and enhance synergies to support agricultural development.
As reported by maroc.ma.
