Today in Marrakech, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, inaugurated the National Commerce Forum titled "Commerce Morocco 2030," which saw the participation of numerous national investors and representatives from partner institutions. This forum is a critical initiative aimed at redefining and enhancing the commerce landscape in Morocco by 2030.
During the opening session, two significant framework agreements were signed. The first agreement focuses on training, employment, and restructuring the sector, and was established between the Ministry of Industry, the National Agency for Employment and Skills, and OneRetail. This agreement aims to create structured job opportunities and develop training programs tailored to the market's needs. The second agreement seeks to support the digitization of local commerce and was signed between the ministry, Barid Bank, Barid Cash, and the "Shari" platform, with the goal of integrating 100,000 merchants into the digital financial system.
In his speech, Minister Mezzour emphasized the royal attention given to the commerce sector, highlighting the vital role played by small traders in the economic and social fabric of the country, asserting that they cannot be replaced. He praised their early engagement in social protection initiatives. The minister revealed that the forum generated 1,500 recommendations in collaboration with professional chambers and institutional partners, with approximately 80 percent of these recommendations already implemented. Currently, Morocco boasts 1,200 markets, with plans to establish an additional 289 markets as part of a vision aimed at creating modern markets in both urban and rural areas.
Regarding digital transformation, Mezzour announced the establishment of an incubator for Moroccan digital solutions targeted at local commerce. He noted that the reduction of electronic payment costs from 1.7 percent to 0.8 percent was achieved through partnerships with Barid Bank and the "Shari" platform, with the government committing to support the first 100,000 merchants participating in this initiative. Furthermore, the minister mentioned that some commercial activities may only require a declaration instead of a license, indicating that discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Interior in this regard.
In conclusion, Mezzour reiterated that the collective engagement of various stakeholders is a fundamental lever for building Commerce Morocco 2030 and for addressing the significant upcoming economic challenges.
As reported by ecopress.ma.
