The Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises Sounds the Alarm and Calls for Urgent Reforms
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The Moroccan Confederation of Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises Raises Alarm on International Day of SMEs
On the occasion of the International Day of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises celebrated on June 27, the Moroccan Confederation of Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises (TPME) has sounded the alarm. Drawing on a groundbreaking national study, it presents a concerning overview of the state of very small enterprises and calls for a comprehensive reform initiative to safeguard a sector considered a pillar of the Moroccan economy.
Very Small Enterprises: The Backbone of the Moroccan Economy
Very small enterprises (TPE) account for nearly 98% of formal businesses in Morocco, providing more than half of the declared jobs in the private sector. Despite their economic significance, they continue to face numerous obstacles that undermine their development and threaten their sustainability.
On this International Day of MSMEs, the Moroccan Confederation of TPME urges public authorities to place this category of businesses at the heart of economic policies to support growth, employment, and investment.
A Study Reveals a Particularly Alarming Situation
The first national study conducted by the Confederation in 2026, titled "The Engine is Broken: The 12 Truths About Moroccan Very Small Enterprises," highlights a rapid degradation of the entrepreneurial fabric.
According to the report, nearly 150,000 businesses disappeared between 2022 and 2025, with 99% being very small enterprises. The number of bankruptcies surged by 108% during this period.
Even more alarming, a very small enterprise ceases operations every ten minutes in Morocco. Only 30% manage to survive beyond five years, and less than 5% have access to bank financing.
Financing, Taxation, and Digitalization: Main Barriers
The study identifies several factors contributing to this situation, including difficulties in accessing credit, payment delays, high taxation, and the low participation of TPEs in public markets.
Digital transition also represents a major challenge. According to the Confederation, 80% of very small enterprises lack a website or digital presence, limiting their competitiveness and ability to seize opportunities offered by the digital economy.
The report also points to competition from the informal sector, estimated at over two million production units, as well as a lack of support mechanisms, training, and representation that cater to the needs of very small enterprises.
A Reform Plan Comprising 25 Measures
In response to this situation, the Confederation proposes a structured reform plan based on 25 measures across seven strategic axes.
Key recommendations include the creation of a public bank dedicated to very small enterprises, adherence to the legal quota of public contracts reserved for them, tax system reform, and enhancing their representation within national bodies.
The plan also entails implementing a national program focused on digitalization and artificial intelligence, gradually structuring the informal sector, establishing a national agency dedicated to TPEs, and setting up an observatory to monitor their economic performance.
A Roadmap for 2035
As part of the New Development Model, the Confederation proposes a strategy covering the 2027-2035 period.
This roadmap aims to double the contribution of very small enterprises to job creation, raise their share of bank credit to over 30%, guarantee their effective access to 20% of public markets, and integrate one million units from the informal sector into the formal economy by 2035.
For the Confederation, supporting very small enterprises is a strategic investment to strengthen the resilience of the national economy and stimulate more inclusive growth.
National Conference Postponed to November
The Confederation has also announced the postponement of the first national conference on very small enterprises, originally scheduled for June 27 and 28.
The event will now take place on November 25, 2026, in Casablanca. During this occasion, the Confederation plans to present a White Paper as well as the Charter for very small enterprises to the future government resulting from the upcoming elections, aiming to promote structural reforms that meet the needs of TPEs, which constitute the overwhelming majority of the Moroccan entrepreneurial fabric.
