馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Franchise sector in Morocco faces structuring and competitiveness challenges
via Le Matin2 min read
The second edition of Franchise Exhibition Morocco 2026, held at the International Fair of Casablanca, brought together over 120 exhibitors, including nearly 30% new brands, with the United Arab Emirates as the guest of honor. The event highlighted the significant growth and evolving challenges within Morocco's franchise sector. Ryad Mezzour, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, noted that the number of franchise networks has expanded from approximately 40 in 1997 to over 720 today, encompassing nearly 5,000 points of sale across the Kingdom. This growth signifies the franchise model's transition into a driver of economic sovereignty. This dynamic is supported by Morocco's economic openness, free trade agreements providing access to a market of over 3 billion consumers, and the anticipated economic boost from the 2030 World Cup. However, this expansion presents new challenges, particularly in structuring the entrepreneurial landscape. Mohamed Elfane, President of the Moroccan Franchise Federation, emphasized the need to transform businesses into organized models capable of supporting strong, internationally competitive brands. The franchise model is seen as a tool for formalization and upgrading, enhancing quality standards and fostering the emergence of strong national brands, thereby promoting "Made in Morocco" products. Anouar Alaoui, Director General of Maroc PME, highlighted the exhibition as a showcase for support mechanisms designed to assist franchises in growth, st
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The governments of the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic will hold the 15th session of the Morocco-France High-Level Meeting on Thursday in Rabat. This session reinforces the exceptional and strengthened partnership between Morocco and France, guided by the two heads of state, King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from the Department of the Head of Government.
National coach Mohamed Ouahbi addressed recent comments from Sofyan Amrabat's family regarding the player's lack of playing time, adopting a calm and educational approach during a press conference. Ouahbi dismissed any notion of a major issue, attributing the frustration to a player eager for more time on the field and a family concerned about seeing him on the bench. He drew on his experience working with youth players and their parents, stating he understands the emotions involved. Ouahbi praised Amrabat's character and commitment, noting that despite his disappointment about not playing, Amrabat consistently trained hard. He explained that Amrabat's reduced playing time was due to strong competition from other emerging talents like Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, and El Mourabet. By handling the situation with detachment and avoiding direct confrontation, Ouahbi preserved team unity and left the door open for Amrabat, an essential figure in the locker room, to continue contributing to the National Team.
Must ReadMorocco is increasingly recognized as a credible and ambitious player in the energy transition, according to Samir Rachidi, Director General of the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies IRESEN. A new 146-page collective work, "Moroccan Energy Diplomacy in the Euro-Mediterranean and Atlantic Space," published by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and edited by Steven H枚fner and Rabii El Bacha, highlights how energy has become a foreign policy instrument for Morocco over the past decade. The book, featuring eight Moroccan legal experts and researchers, examines the intersection of law, geopolitics, and engineering. The publication traces this strategic shift back to the 2014 Morocco-European Union summit, where King Mohammed VI advocated for a controlled, secure, and sustainable Euro-Mediterranean energy policy. Morocco is now evolving into an energy integration platform to strengthen regional cooperation. Key infrastructure projects underscore this ambition. Morocco is the first African country physically connected to the European electricity grid, with the initial Morocco-Spain link established in 1997. A second circuit doubled its capacity to 1,400 MW, jointly financed by Spain's Red Electrica and Morocco's ONEE. A third interconnection is under study. The Sila Atlantik project, backed by Berlin and Xlinks, aims to deliver 3.6 GW of renewable electricity to Germany via two 4,800-kilometer subsea cables, supported by 15 GW of solar and wind capacity in Morocco. This p