The Moroccan National Investment Commission approves 20 projects that will create 27,000 jobs
On 29 January, during its meeting in Rabat, the 7th Moroccan National Investment Commission approved a total of 15 projects and two modifications of agreements within the framework of the main system constituted by the new Investment Charter. In addition to this, there are also another three strategic projects. In total, around twenty projects, which will involve a total investment of 17.3 billion dirhams (around 1.66 billion euros) and which are expected to generate around 27,000 new jobs.
The projects already approved represent an investment of approximately 4.3 billion dirhams (413 million euros) and guarantee the creation of at least 5,500 jobs, 3,900 direct and 1,600 indirect. These projects will mainly affect the provinces of Ben Mellal, Guelmim and Tan-Tan, as well as 14 other provinces and prefectures in seven regions of Morocco.
The projects correspond to sectors such as tourism, renewable energies, the agri-food industry, the automotive industry, the packaging industry, the lighting industry and subcontracting. Within these, the tourism sector is the one that generates the most jobs in the projects approved by this seventh commission, accounting for 42% of the total. The automotive sector is the second largest job generator, at 24%, while the agri-food and subcontracting sectors account for 13% and 8%, respectively.
Morocco's tourism sector
For Morocco, tourism is a fundamental part of the economy, accounting for approximately 7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing around 15% of the working population.
Between January and November 2024, the country welcomed 15.9 million tourists and overtook Egypt as North Africa's top tourist destination. This is because the country, in addition to good weather conditions, also offers various tourist activities.
In this sense, the Moroccan government has implemented various strategies to diversify and improve the tourism offer, focusing on regionalisation, quality and sustainability.
Labour market
Employment represents a challenge for the North African country since, according to data from the High Commissioner for Planning, the unemployment figure reached 13.6% in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 13.5% in 2023. In absolute terms, this increase represents an additional 58,000 unemployed people.
Young people aged between 15 and 24 are the most affected age group and in 2024 reached an unemployment rate of 39.5%, which represents an increase from the 35.9% recorded in 2022.
To address this challenge, the Moroccan government is implementing measures such as the Wafira pilot project, which is funded by the European Union, and has provided training to 209 female seasonal workers who work in Huelva so that they can start their own businesses in their home communities.
In addition, Morocco has allocated 14 billion dirhams (1.344 billion euros) in the 2025 Finance Act to empower small and medium-sized enterprises and promote employment in rural areas. This initiative will enable the creation of 67 vocational training centres, 55 of which will focus on agricultural education.
The VII Commission also approved three strategic projects in the textile and leather sector, in the metallurgical industry and in telecommunications, specifically in the regions of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, worth 13 billion dirhams and with the idea of creating approximately 21,500 jobs.
The National Investment Commission is a government body whose job is to evaluate and approve projects related to the country's investment. From 2023 onwards, the commission has been mainly responsible for boosting private investment, both domestic and foreign.