Improving the Competitiveness of Marrakech-Safi

completed

The project will contribute to improve the competitiveness of the Marrakech-Safi region in Morocco by supporting the Regional Investment Center of Marrakech-Safi (CRI MS) to i) improve the business environment for investors, including streamlining of procedures to reduce public payment delays and (ii) retain and promote private investment in Marrakech-Safi. The project has two components: the first being improving business environment in the region and the second being retaining and promoting private investment in the region that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the first component, in line with the ongoing decentralization strategy and the repositioning of the CRI under their recently enacted law, the project will support the CRI MS in improving the regional investment climate through reducing public procurement payment delays for private sector entities operating in the region and supporting the operationalization of the CREA of Marrakech-Safi (CREA MS) so enhance governance for an improved business environment. The second component, focusing will support reinforcing investment retention and promotion in the Marrakech Safi region through the implementation of the following activities: i) Identifying of best practices for regional investment retention and promotion activities through a benchmarking of regional investment promotion agencies including in Catalunya and Flanders regions, ii) supporting CRI MS in refining it strategy for retaining and promoting private investment, especially FDI, in less developed provinces in the region, iii) Establishing an “after-care” procedure which could be adopted for the CRI of the Marrakech Safi Region for monitoring investment projects, improving overall investors’ satisfaction and encourage re-investment and expansion of existing projects.