Highlights

Mr. Salaheddine MEZZOUAR , Minister of Economy and Finance, and Mr. Abdellatif MAAZOUZ, Minister of Foreign Trade, presided over the signing ceremony of six agreements at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday 30th September 2011. The signing of these agreements is part of the implementation of the `Morocco Export Plus` strategy designed to raise the volume of Moroccan exports by 2015, generate additional GDP of MAD 45 billion, create 200,000 direct jobs, and contribute to the emergence of 1000 new exporters.

The first partnership agreement pertaining to export-oriented growth contracts and signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Moroccan Centre for the Promotion of Export (CMPE), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), will provide financial support to 375 export-oriented businesses or businesses with export potential between 2011 and 2017. Based on a call for projects, the support provided will cover part of the costs incurred for the promotion and the development of export, with the aim of improving business performance in export and promoting excellence in export-oriented business ventures.

The second partnership agreement pertaining to the support programme for export consortia signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Moroccan Centre for the Promotion of Export (CMPE), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), aims to provide financial and technical support for the creation, development and consolidation of 55 export consortia between 2011 and 2017.

The third partnership agreement pertaining to export auditing signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Moroccan Centre for the Promotion of Export (CMPE), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), aims to set up and to run an export auditing scheme for the benefit of 1000 companies between 2011 and 2017. The scheme will support small and medium-size businesses in their efforts to boost export performance.

The fourth partnership agreement related to training and enhancing foreign trade competence was signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Ministry for Higher Education, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Rabat International University and Al Akhawayn University. The agreement aims to introduce degree-based training at postgraduate level, as well as a continuous training programme in foreign trade, to train 2200 persons, including 300 Master`s holders, in seven Moroccan universities between 2011 and 2017.

The fifth partnership agreement pertaining to the support programme for the certification of small and medium-size producers was signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the Export and Marketing Office (OCE), and should enable the certification of 3,818 small and medium-size producers for an overall land area of 10,450 ha to be also certified alongside 158 production facilities.

The sixth and last partnership agreement signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the Casablanca Fairs and Exhibitions Office (OFEC), is intended to support the Office financially with the internationalisation of 5 fairs relating to new technologies and offshoring, the pharmaceutical industry (Medical Expo), `terroir` and local produce (Terroirs Expo), the electrical industry (Elec Expo), and the automobile industry.