Riyad Mezzour: Green Economy and Industrial Investment as Drivers for Job Creation and Sustainable Development
Riyad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, revealed that emerging sectors, particularly the green economy, are now a genuine lever for modernizing the national economy and creating quality job opportunities. He noted that the Industrial Project Bank has attracted 1,839 projects, while the National Investment Commission has supported 191 projects, contributing to the creation of over 331,000 jobs.
During his participation in a national seminar on investment and employment organized by the House of Councillors, Mezzour emphasized that this momentum is reflected in the remarkable increase in foreign direct investment directed towards industry, which has tripled over the past decade to reach 16.5 billion dirhams in 2024. This, he said, indicates the growing confidence of international investors in Morocco as a preferred destination.
The minister pointed out that spatial justice occupies a central position within the ministry’s objectives, emphasizing that nearly 30% of industrial projects are now being implemented outside the Casablanca-Rabat-Tangier axis, confirming a shift towards a more equitable distribution of investments across the various regions.
Regarding anticipated opportunities, Mezzour noted that the Industrial Project Bank alone has attracted investments worth 124 billion dirhams, distributed across all regions of the kingdom, and is expected to contribute to around 180,000 direct jobs.
In the context of implementing the new investment charter, the Minister of Industry stated that the National Investment Commission has approved 191 projects with an investment value of 326 billion dirhams, half of which are industrial projects expected to create over 150,000 jobs, primarily in the industrial sector.
Discussing future sectors, Mezzour highlighted Morocco’s ambition to establish a fully integrated production chain for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, from raw material extraction to final vehicle production within just five years.
He also stressed Morocco’s significant commitment to the hydrogen sector, confirming that the kingdom has strong potential to position itself as a key supplier to the European market in this field, which will open the door to the creation of new local industries and the development of an integrated industrial system encompassing energy, transport, and storage components.
Mezzour added that water desalination also represents one of the major strategic challenges, especially following the royal directives issued in the 2024 Throne Speech, which called for the establishment of a comprehensive national system for water desalination.
In conclusion, Riyad Mezzour affirmed that these industrial orientations reflect Morocco’s desire to build a strong industrial economy based on innovation, energy sovereignty, and a commitment to the transition towards a low-carbon economy, thereby enhancing the kingdom’s competitiveness at regional and international levels and creating quality and sustainable job opportunities.
