Hjira: Regional Disparities Dominate Morocco’s Export Map
Omar Hjira, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, confirmed that three regions in Morocco account for 85 percent of the country’s total exports, noting that 75 percent of exporting companies are concentrated in these three regions.
He explained that the first region alone contributes 47 percent of industrial exports, while the second region holds 26 percent, and the contributions of other regions do not exceed 2 percent, reflecting significant disparities in the distribution of export activities nationwide.
During a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives, Hjira revealed that the foreign trade program for the period 2025-2027 has been prepared using a comprehensive, participatory territorial approach. He affirmed that the government aims to equip all regions, including those far from the coast, with tools that allow them to engage in export dynamics.
The government official pointed out that discussions and consultations held in several regions revealed a lack of awareness among some officials regarding export figures. This prompted the organization of such meetings to enhance local stakeholders’ understanding of the importance of participating in the export system.
He added that many regions lacked liaison offices with relevant export sector stakeholders, announcing the opening of 12 new regional offices across various areas of the kingdom to bring foreign trade services closer to businesses of all sizes, including micro and small enterprises outside major urban centers.
Hjira emphasized that the government is working towards achieving regional equity in this field by bringing institutional offers closer to local businesses and activating the territorial dimension in the export system, alongside providing a digital platform for exporters and importers containing various necessary data.
He clarified that the foreign trade program aims to increase the number of exporting companies to 400 annually, achieving an additional 84 billion dirhams from the current 120 billion dirhams that are unutilized, while creating 76,000 new jobs, in line with the government’s approach to enhancing the role of foreign trade in economic development.
