The Growing Influence of Sicpa in Morocco
Every cigarette enjoyed on the terrace of a café in Rabat and every discreet sip of beer in the authorized bars of Casablanca casts a shadow of a well-established Swiss company in the kingdom: Sicpa. Over the past two decades, this discreet family-owned group has positioned itself as the sole interlocutor for the Moroccan administration regarding various sectors, most notably tobacco. Sicpa, renowned globally for its expertise in security printing and authentication solutions, has become an integral player in the Moroccan landscape, influencing not only economic activities but also regulatory measures.
Challenges and Controversies in the Tobacco Sector
The representative institutions in Morocco, led since 1987 by a former influential tourism minister, have been awaiting reforms since 2022. This delay has sparked frustration among the Ivorian business community, which feels their requests for adjustments to the rules governing the awarding of significant contracts for the authentication and tracking of tobacco products have not been adequately considered by the relevant authorities. The regulations imposed by authorities in this regard have raised the ire of local entrepreneurs, who argue that the criteria are unfavorably skewed against them, especially with the looming presence of Sicpa, a leader in the field. The situation becomes even more complex with the emergence of international players, such as the British start-up Xlinks, which is advocating for an ambitious solar and wind energy project in southern Morocco, directly linked to the British electricity grid, supported by local financial interests.
On January 18, Eric Besson, the president of Sicpa Morocco, presented pharmaceutical traceability solutions to Moroccan industrialists and authorities during a seminar held in collaboration with the discreet lobbyist Ahmed Bahaddou. This initiative underscores Sicpa's commitment to expanding its influence beyond tobacco into the pharmaceutical sector, further entrenching its role in Morocco's regulatory landscape. As the country navigates these complex dynamics, the balance between local interests and foreign influence remains a pivotal issue.
As reported by africaintelligence.fr.
