Programme promotion of small and medium enterprises

projekt beendet

Context Morocco is confronted with economic problems. On the one hand the Moroccan economy must position itself better globally by means of free trade and opening up its market in order to hold its ground in the international economic system. On the other hand, broad-based opportunities to gain income and employment must be created to alleviate poverty. Due to their large share of the economic structure and employment, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) play a central role here. Family-run microenterprises in particular need support in order to increase their economic performance. It is also important to provide SMSEs with improved access to financial services so that they can afford to make necessary investments.Objective Moroccan micro, small and medium enterprises improve their entrepreneurial capacity, realise their growth potential and contribute to job creation.Approach The measures taken by GIZ are aimed primarily at the level of ministries, associations and supporting agencies. The Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance wishes to channel policy knowledge gleaned from studies into MSME support and to intensify cooperation with the line ministries. GIZ supports this with consulting services and training measures. Frameworks for MSME support policy are discussed in public-private dialogue forums. Consultancy and courses for the national support agencies and associations are intended to help them adjust their range of services and products to better serve the needs of MSME and to improve their quality.Selected Moroccan banks are supported by GIZ in designing appropriate financial services to enable MSMEs to be granted more loans.Results achieved so far The promotion of microenterprises has come to receive significantly more attention in Moroccan economic policy. This is evidenced not least in the fact that the support originally intended now bears the title National Strategy to Support Very Small Enterprises.In designing the national support strategy, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has focused on formalising microenterprises. The Ministry recognises the economic and social significance of the informal sector and emphasises a support approach in its policy that aims to strengthen the potential of microenterprises. This position is by no means undisputed, as the sector is often associated with illicit employment or disloyal competition.GIZ supports the Moroccan bank association in creating better access to financial services for MSME. The downscaling applied here is an innovative approach for which there is hardly any comparable experience. Altogether five banks are participating in the measures, among them the newly founded post office bank. An implementation agreement was reached with the association and the respective banks laying down the commitment of all participants.

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