The government has called for support of small traders in facing competitive challenges.
Mustafa El Filali
Omar Hjira, Secretary of State for Industry and Trade, responsible for foreign trade, emphasized the importance of supporting small traders who constitute the backbone of the local economy. This statement was made during the oral question session in the House of Representatives on Monday, June 16, 2025, where he noted that the local shopkeepers face significant challenges due to the increasing competition from medium and large retail stores.
Hjira highlighted that small traders represent an important economic and social value in Morocco, contributing 58% of the total commercial transactions in the country. He revealed that 80% of sales points in the kingdom belong to this group, which provides job opportunities for around 600,000 people, accounting for 36% of the total workforce in the trade sector.
In this context, the government official called for the need to equip small traders with modern technological means and the necessary training programs to enhance their competitive abilities. He specifically pointed out the significance of this support in light of the ongoing preparations to host the 2030 World Cup, which require the development of commercial services to keep pace with the expected tourist influx.
He also mentioned that the average annual transaction volume for a small trader is approximately 38,000 dirhams, affirming that supporting this group is a national priority to ensure social stability and local development. He concluded his statement by confirming that the government is working on practical programs to enable small traders to adapt to the changes occurring in the trade sector both locally and internationally.
