The World Bank has underscored the pivotal role of Morocco’s private sector in driving economic growth and expanding employment opportunities, particularly for young people and women, in two reports presented Tuesday in Rabat.
The reports were unveiled during a conference focused on growth, employment, and private investment opportunities, where policymakers and international partners examined pathways to unlock Morocco’s economic potential.
According to the findings, strengthening the business environment and implementing targeted structural reforms remain essential to stimulate private investment and translate macroeconomic progress into tangible job creation.
Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, said the reports provide a structured framework for identifying key levers needed to accelerate growth and expand productive employment.
She noted that the analyses, developed through consultations with national stakeholders, prioritize critical challenges while offering an in-depth assessment of both constraints and opportunities within the Moroccan economy.
“These reports serve as a basis for reflection that aligns with ongoing reforms and supports a broader national vision for economic transformation,” Fettah said.
She emphasized that public policy must play a strategic role as both a reform driver and facilitator, ensuring the creation of favorable conditions for private sector expansion.
Fettah also highlighted the importance of building a more transparent, predictable, and efficient business environment, in line with Morocco’s goal of raising the private sector’s share of total investment to two-thirds by 2035.
Human capital, she added, remains central to this transformation, stressing that education, vocational training, and employability are key national priorities.
The government’s employment roadmap places particular focus on integrating youth and women into the labor market, supporting career transitions, and strengthening job resilience, especially in sectors vulnerable to climate change such as agriculture.
For his part, Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye described the reports as complementary analytical tools designed to address Morocco’s structural economic challenges and support its development ambitions.
He explained that the first report examines growth and employment dynamics, identifying constraints that hinder productive transformation, while the second focuses on private sector development and barriers to investment in high-potential industries.
“These analyses are grounded in new data and advanced methodologies, offering a renewed perspective on Morocco’s economic trajectory,” Ndiaye said.
Meanwhile, Cheick Oumar Sylla, representing the International Finance Corporation, highlighted Morocco’s progress in macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, and economic diversification.
He noted that while these achievements position Morocco as a regional leader, they must now translate into stronger and higher-quality job creation.
Sylla called for an expanded role for the private sector as the primary engine of employment, stressing the need to remove investment constraints and improve the overall business climate.
The reports further stress the importance of deepening market competition, easing regulatory barriers, and enhancing economic inclusion, particularly for women and young people.
They identify several high-potential sectors, including decentralized solar energy, low-carbon textiles, argan-based cosmetics, and marine aquaculture, where targeted reforms could unlock up to $7.4 billion in private investment.
Such investments could generate more than 166,000 jobs in the medium term, contributing to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the Kingdom.
