Boosting Export Potential: A Close Look at the Fès-Meknès Region in Morocco

Boosting Export Potential: A Close Look at the Fès-Meknès Region in Morocco

Untapped Potential: The Fès-Meknès Region’s Export Game

The Fès-Meknès region in Morocco is a vibrant area teeming with untapped export potential. Currently, it lags behind other regions in competitiveness, primarily due to underutilization of this potential. The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services (CCIS) is taking proactive steps to remedy this situation by mobilizing local industrialists and artisans. They aim to foster an environment conducive to export activities, thereby boosting the region’s economic performance.

First-Time Exporters’ Support Program: A New Dawn

Recently, the CCIS launched a new edition of the first-time exporters’ support program. The program is a part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to double the number of exporting companies in Morocco, which currently sits between 6,000 and 7,000. The program seeks to financially assist companies with little export experience, hoping to help them develop their commercial activities internationally.

Each year, the program targets 100 companies operating in industry or service sectors with export potential. Beneficiaries can receive financial support of up to 1.5 million dirhams (MDH) per company over a two-year period, allowing them to develop their sales on international markets.

Detailed Strategy and Training: The Way Forward

The first-time exporters’ support program is not just about financial aid. It also offers strategic guidance and training to the companies it supports. The program begins with a diagnosis of the company and the design of its export strategy over a three-year period. Additionally, it provides access to training in various export development themes, equipping companies with the skills and tools they need to succeed in the global market.

The program targets Moroccan companies whose average export turnover does not exceed 5 MDH over the last three years. This strategic focus aims to transform these companies into models for others facing similar challenges, thereby increasing the overall number of companies involved in exports.

Looking to the Future: Strengthening Presence on Foreign Markets

The ultimate goal of the first-time exporters’ support program goes beyond just increasing the number of exporting companies. It seeks to help beneficiary companies establish a strong presence on foreign markets. This is achieved by enhancing their understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the specificities of the markets they target.

The program, therefore, does not just target short-term gains. Instead, it aims to foster sustainable growth by helping companies secure their international positioning, particularly in high-potential future markets. By providing appropriate means to engage in prospecting, the program ensures that companies have the resources they need to access these target markets.

Through initiatives like the first-time exporters’ support program, the Fès-Meknès region is poised to make significant strides in boosting its export potential. The journey may be challenging, but with strategic planning, adequate support, and a focus on sustainable growth, the region’s economic future looks promising.