Morocco now has more than 380,000 active registered companies, but rising business closures highlight mounting pressures on young and small enterprises, according to new data released Wednesday.
Amal Idrissi, executive director of the Moroccan Observatory for Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises, said the country’s business fabric remains resilient despite persistent structural, regional, and sectoral imbalances.
Idrissi was speaking at a press briefing in Casablanca marking the release of the observatory’s sixth annual report, which reviews business activity in 2024.
The report shows that the number of active companies grew by 1.3% compared to 2023, largely driven by the creation of very small and small enterprises. These firms continue to form the backbone of Morocco’s productive ecosystem.
However, the pace of business closures outstripped overall growth. The number of companies ceasing activity rose by 6%, with businesses less than five years old the most affected.
Regionally, economic activity remains highly concentrated. More than half of Morocco’s companies are located along the Tangier–El Jadida corridor, reinforcing territorial disparities and limiting growth opportunities in other regions.
Economic indicators such as turnover, exports, and value added recorded overall growth, though uneven across sectors. Manufacturing remains a key driver, with the automotive and chemical industries playing a leading role in export performance.
In terms of employment, very small, small, and medium enterprises continue to account for the largest share of jobs. Nevertheless, women remain underrepresented, both in managerial roles and within the workforce.
Access to bank financing showed modest improvement. Very small enterprises received around 20% of total business loans, while small and medium firms accounted for 21%. Large companies continued to dominate credit access, capturing nearly 60% of total financing.
The report also reviewed progress under Morocco’s 2024–2026 strategic plan, noting advances in data collection, monitoring tools, and analytical capacity.
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