Fez-Meknes/Project Bank: 160 MDH to strengthen the industrial sovereignty of the region

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just approved financing of 160 million dirhams for the realization of 10 new projects in the Fez-Meknes region. The latter, which come under the bank of projects established by the ministry, will enable the creation of nearly 520 direct jobs.

The Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, signed last Wednesday in Fez, with local industrial operators, ten investment agreements which will be carried out in the Fez-Meknes Region. Mobilizing an overall investment of 160 million dirhams (MDH), the latter will create nearly 520 direct jobs.

During the signing ceremony, the Minister called on the business leaders benefiting from the financing to innovate, double their production capacities and contribute to improving the rate of industrial integration. Registered in the bank of projects drawn up by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, these new investments aim to strengthen the fabric of SMEs in the region and the industrial sovereignty of the Kingdom.

“The industrial sovereignty of our country inevitably passes through the SME. These new projects, which we have supported and monitored, are indicative of this. They provide tangible proof of the important role played by SMEs as a vector of regional industrial development and a strong link in its economic dynamics,” explains Mezzour.

The Minister also underlined that the region occupies the 5th position in terms of projects supported by the Ministry’s Sovereignty Task Force. “Today we have 81 investment projects in the region, 75% of which are financed by Moroccan capital. This represents 5,536 direct jobs and a substitution potential for imports of 2.5 billion dirhams and, for export, of 1.574 billion dirhams”, specifies the minister.

And to add, “the Fez-Meknes Region confirms its dynamics through the diversity of the industrial sectors that are developing there, thus attesting to its place as an economic pole that creates wealth and employment. We will continue to work together with SMEs to further promote local production.”

A great potential to be exploited
The Fez-Meknes Region is fully committed to the process of revitalizing its industrial fabric, through several structuring projects, launched and programmed within the framework of the Regional Development Program (PDR), and outside the PDR, such as the development of the ex-Cotef zone in Fez, the development of the Ain Cheggag Industrial Park in Sefrou, the forthcoming launch of the Ain Cheggag Industrial Acceleration Zone (first free zone in the region), the future park of Fez- Sais or the Industrial Zone of Ouislane in Meknes.

During his speech, Saïd Zniber, wali of the region, highlighted the potential available to the latter, in particular a significant industrial land offer, with more than 13 districts and operational industrial zones over a total area of more than 1,000 ha. In order to support this industrial land offer, 7 logistics zones have been programmed over an area of 365 ha as part of the Regional Scheme for Logistics Zones, as well as an operational ONCF dry port at the level of the Bensouda Logistics Zone. in Fez, over an area of 5.5 ha.

“All these projects are accompanied by the establishment of incentive mechanisms at the regional level, in addition to the national mechanisms deployed, like the Industrial Development Fund or Morocco SME offers”, specifies the wali.

These incentives, materialized by the regional employment bonus and the industrial sovereignty fund, are intended to support public strategies and policies for the development of the industrial sector, such as the strategy of import substitution or decarbonization, and to support the emergence of new key players at regional level.

Priority to sovereignty industrial
Supported within the framework of programs such as Istitmar PME and Tatwir Croissance verte, these projects relate to six strategic industrial sectors: chemicals and parachemicals, textiles and clothing, building materials, electrical and electronics, automotive and renewable energies.

Five of the ten investment projects relate to the chemical, plastics and paper and cardboard sectors and relate, among other things, to the construction or extension of production units. In the textile and clothing sector, the agreement signed aims to create a ready-to-wear clothing unit.

As for the construction materials and electrical and electronics sectors, the investments relate, respectively, to the construction of a marble processing unit and another for the production of digital and intelligent electricity meters.

The two other projects are aimed at building a production unit for radiators and installing a production line for photovoltaic panels. It should be noted that industrial sovereignty, which should not be confused with self-sufficiency, is rather a mixture of security, in particular of value chains and industrial influence, to have access to markets, to enhance the value of resources and not to commercialize them.

Support the act of investing
During this meeting, Mezzour praised the considerable efforts of the wali of the region, the president of the regional council and the CRI who are working hard to facilitate the act of investing and promote the integration of investors.

“Because of bad practices related to investment, the city of Fez suffered for many years from a deterioration of its business climate. Today, all the players in the region must work hard to support investment, whatever its size, in order to guarantee a solid and lasting economic take-off,” said the Minister.

Indeed, improving the various components of the business climate requires supporting investment and strengthening the competitiveness of companies capable of supporting economic and financial transformations.

On the sidelines of this meeting, the President of the Regional Council, Abdelouahed El Ansari, underlined that the improvement of the economic attractiveness of territorial spaces, the support of the productive sectors and the promotion of employment constituted strategic objectives, not only within the framework of the Regional Development Program (RDP) but also with regard to the priorities and action plans of the regional council.

Mehdi Idrissi / ECO Inspirations