The WTO Highlights Morocco’s Entrepreneurial Dynamics and the Role of Regional Investment Centers
The World Trade Organization Highlights Entrepreneurial Dynamics in Morocco
The World Trade Organization (WTO) continues to emphasize the importance of entrepreneurial dynamics and innovation in Morocco, shining a light on the crucial role of Regional Investment Centers (CRI) in supporting the growth of Moroccan businesses on the international stage.
In a globalized and interconnected economy, small businesses have the potential to reach worldwide markets but often face numerous challenges. These obstacles include scalability issues and complex trade regulations, as highlighted by the host of the WTO’s web series titled “In the Footsteps of the Marrakech Spirit.”
In the latest episode of this series, created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Marrakech Agreement in April 1994—which led to the establishment of the WTO—Joo Eun Lee visits the Regional Investment Center of Marrakech-Safi (CRI-MS). Mohamed Amine Sabibi, the interim director general of CRI-MS, explains how businesses can overcome these hurdles through streamlined processes, aggregation programs, and specialized financing solutions that foster international growth.
The CRIs are essential economic development agencies that unleash the potential of the private sector by supporting businesses and simplifying administrative procedures. Mohamed Amine Sabibi noted that these centers provide specialized technical assistance to meet the standards and certifications required for access to foreign markets, alongside establishing flexible and tailored financing mechanisms to support the growth of SMEs.
The interim director general of CRI-MS discussed the three main challenges companies face in accessing foreign markets: issues of scale, the minimum requirements of developed markets, and the necessity of obtaining international certifications. He emphasized that globalization offers "endless possibilities and opportunities," reminding us that "the economy of a country cannot today be closed off or isolated from international trade."
The episode also addressed the importance of trade and cultural exchanges, highlighting the wealth and limitless benefits these interactions bring to societies.
This episode concludes the series “In the Footsteps of the Marrakech Spirit,” which has traversed Morocco to showcase the entrepreneurial dynamics and international positioning of the country since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) conference in Marrakech in 1994, a foundational event for the WTO.
