Casablanca- The president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Ms. Meriem Bensaleh Chakroune asserted last Friday in Paris at the Summer University for Entrepreneurs that Morocco has become a real regional power and a new site for growth.
The Summer University for Entrepreneurs organized in France, received famous names in the world of business from different countries. During this annual meeting, the participants discussed a number of topical social and economic issues, including the reform of retirement systems and workers’ wages.
In her address, Ms. Bensaleh Chakroune said that Morocco is keeping up with the pace of international developments, which open up new horizons for the national economy. She added that the social, political and economic reforms implemented in Moroccohelped to empower the business environment, to fight against a rentier economy and to achieve excellence in the field of services and industry.
The CGEM president hailed the efforts made by king Mohammed VI in the promotion of social development through the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), which has launched 29,000 projects both in urban and rural areas. Chakroune also added that the stability that Morocco enjoys has attracted a large number of new partners.
Ms. Bensaleh Chakroune pinpointed that the Moroccan economy is capable of withstanding the global economic crisis since the rate of consumption reached 67% of the national GDP, which is liable to boost external demand, as well as the tourism sector. She added that Morocco is still the second destination for foreign investments in the African continent after South Africa.
She stressed also the urgent need for a new industrialization of the country especially that the contribution of industry in the national GDP dropped from 17% in 2008 to 14 % in 2013.
Ms. Bensaleh Chakroune considers that the offshore agreements are real engines for the national economy, which further account for the pressing need of more rapid industrialization. She emphasized that a strong industrial sector remains the safeguard against economic downturns.
The CGEM president made it clear that Moroccan entrepreneurs are committed to capitalize on growth, adding that the CGEM reached an unprecedented agreement with trade unions regarding employment and growth. In this regard, Ms Bensaleh Chakroune said, “In this agreement, we created for the first time in Morocco and Africa a compensation for job loss in coordination with the authorities.”
This new measure will enable employees who lost their jobs to benefit from financial support and special mentoring in their job search.
Meriem Bensaleh concluded, “In the CGEM, we are confident that there is no chance for businesses to grow without a strong and sustainable commitment by those who represent the real engine of economy.”