The first session of the International Forum for Industry and Services kicked off yesterday, Monday, in Agadir, with the presence of numerous officials and institutional and economic players.
This event, spanning two days under the theme: “Agadir Souss-Massa, a Strategic Hub for Industry and Services in Morocco,” is organized by the magazine “Industrie Maroc” in collaboration with the Souss-Massa Regional Investment Center, the regional authority, the Souss-Massa Regional Council, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises in the region, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services.
In his opening speech, the CEO of “Industrie Maroc,” Hicham Rahioui Idrissi, emphasized that this international forum aligns with a long-term citizen commitment aimed at enhancing national production systems and boosting territorial investment.
Rahioui praised the strategic framework established by the Industrial Acceleration Plan launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, stressing the importance of uniting local efforts around high-value-added industrial projects.
Khalid Achnakli, the President of the Souss-Massa Regional Council, highlighted the unique nature of the regional model of the Industrial Acceleration Plan, which started in January 2018, showcasing various structural projects initiated since then, primarily the industrial acceleration zones in Derraqa, Tiznit, and Ouled Taime. He also pointed out the growing role of the Port of Agadir and the real estate incentives designed to attract investors.
He clarified that this dynamism benefits from the intersection of efforts between ministries and local authorities, aiming to reposition Agadir as a major economic hub.
On another note, Ibrahim Benmoussa, the Secretary-General of the Ministry Delegate in charge of Investment, Coordination, and Evaluation of Public Policies, praised the unprecedented industrial momentum in the region, highlighting the role of the new investment charter in facilitating this transformation.
Benmoussa referred to the strategic role of regional investment centers and unified regional investment committees in supporting very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises, asserting that the reforms initiated by Morocco respond to the recommendations of the new development model.
In her turn, Afaf Saidi, Director of Aviation, Railways, Ships, and Renewable Energies at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, discussed Morocco’s positioning within global value chains, particularly in the fields of aviation, automotive, green hydrogen, and electric mobility.
Saidi shed light on the role of the Souss-Massa region in this new industrial era, pointing to the welcoming infrastructure, innovation city, technopark, and priority industrial systems developed in the region.
The forum’s program includes thematic round tables, sectoral workshops, and bilateral business meetings aimed at enhancing integration between the public and private sectors and translating regional ambitions into tangible projects for industrial and territorial development in the area.
