Kareem Zidan: Launching a Support Program for Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises to Enhance Investment, Employment, and Spatial Justice
Kareem Zidan, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Coordination, and Evaluation of Public Policies, confirmed that the support program aimed at very small, small, and medium enterprises takes into account regional peculiarities, stimulates investment, and contributes to job creation.
During his speech at the program’s launch on Tuesday in Errachidia, Zidan stated that these enterprises represent the heartbeat of the national economy and are the primary lever for sustainable development, as they make up approximately 90% of the national entrepreneurial fabric. He affirmed that enhancing this category and increasing its productive contribution is not a temporary goal, but rather a strategic choice aimed at valuing regional capabilities, creating added value, and enhancing employment dynamics and national productive sovereignty.
He noted that the support system is designed to complement the basic support system and the system designated for strategic projects, allowing for targeting all categories of investments based on their size, and relies on a comprehensive participatory vision that considers national ambitions in investment and the regional characteristics of the regions.
Zidan stressed that the program falls within the government’s roadmap for employment 2025-2030, which has allocated a budget of approximately 15 billion dirhams in the 2025 Finance Law, aiming to finance practical and integrated initiatives to invigorate investments in very small, small, and medium enterprises as they are a primary gateway for employment and incorporating youth and women into the productive cycle.
The system targets established enterprises that have achieved a turnover between one million and 200 million dirhams during one of the last three years, and newly established enterprises in the past three years, while considering specific conditions related to ownership, capital structure, and investment areas. It also includes a list of 14 sectors and 54 branches based on the characteristics of each region.
The program offers three grants that can be combined up to 30% of the eligible investment amount: a grant for creating permanent job positions, a territorial grant, and a grant for priority activities, with the possibility of combining these grants with regional support systems.
Zidan pointed out that the grants aim to enhance job creation opportunities, direct investments towards regions that are lacking in investment, and support promising economic and social activities, in line with the King’s royal directives to combat regional disparities and enhance social and spatial justice.
He clarified that the regional investment centers will oversee the implementation of the system, from processing applications to supporting enterprises until the disbursement of the due grants, to ensure optimal implementation and sustainability of the program.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing that this system represents a strong boost for productive investment and employment, establishes spatial justice, strengthens confidence in national competencies, and economically empowers youth and women, making very small, small, and medium enterprises a key partner in building a strong and inclusive national economy.
