Morocco pledges greener public spending as part of sustainability push

Morocco is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development by prioritizing environmentally conscious public procurement, Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa said Monday during the opening of a regional forum on climate-smart public purchasing for the Arab world and MENA region.

Lekjaa emphasized that public institutions must set an example in energy consumption and align their operations with Morocco’s international environmental commitments. “Every dirham of public money is an opportunity to inject green momentum into the Kingdom,” he said, asserting that state spending must increasingly reflect sustainability goals.

Public procurement represents nearly 20 percent of Morocco’s GDP, making it a strategic lever for advancing the country’s environmental agenda. The minister underscored that the 2030 National Strategy for Sustainable Development is grounded in the 2011 Constitution, which enshrines the right to sustainable development, and aligns with Morocco’s global commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Green public purchasing is no longer optional, Lekjaa stressed. “It is a strategic necessity,” he said, pointing to its role in bridging environmental rhetoric with concrete policies, stimulating local innovation, and supporting green job creation. He called for rigorous environmental standards in all procurement contracts and urged public institutions, ministries, and local governments to form evaluation committees dedicated to assessing compliance.

Acknowledging the financial demands of environmental transition, Lekjaa highlighted the importance of international partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms to support Morocco’s ambitions. “The country is determined to become a regional model in sustainable procurement,” he said, urging all stakeholders to translate this vision into tangible action.

Also speaking at the forum, Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, the World Bank’s Regional Director for the Maghreb and Malta, described public procurement as a strategic tool in the fight against climate change. With $13 billion spent globally in this domain, he said, procurement policy must increasingly embed green requirements, particularly in infrastructure projects.

Ndiaye affirmed the World Bank’s readiness to support Morocco’s efforts alongside other international and regional development organizations. “The goal is to institutionalize sustainability in procurement practices,” he said, calling for enhanced knowledge sharing and capacity building across the region.