馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan SMEs face challenges in expanding export activities
via Le Matin7 min read
Only 6,000 Moroccan companies currently export, a figure highlighted at the second edition of the SME Forum organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises CGEM. The event focused on the need for Morocco to not only increase export volumes but also to enable more companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises SMEs, to engage in international trade. Public officials, business leaders, and support organizations are working to connect SMEs with international markets by addressing existing barriers. Chakib Alj, president of the CGEM, emphasized that the challenge extends beyond export volumes to increasing the number of companies capable of internationalization. He noted that export is often perceived as complex, costly, and reserved for large groups, calling for this "glass ceiling" to be broken. Real obstacles include lack of information, limited market knowledge, difficulty accessing contacts, unfamiliarity with support mechanisms, fear of procedures, and challenges in financing prospecting and securing operations. The CGEM aims to use the SME Forum to connect businesses with available tools, institutional support, and successful experiences. Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence, and Evaluation of Public Policies, stressed that internationalization requires a clear framework and effective public support. He views export not just as a commercial endeavor but as a commitment to producing better, enhancing reliability, and meeting
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed, assisted by compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Mustapha Akerkad, has been appointed by FIFA to officiate the World Cup 2026 group stage match between Portugal and Uzbekistan. South African Tom Abongile will serve as the fourth official, assisted by Zakhele Siwela. This marks the second assignment for the Moroccan trio, who previously officiated the Germany vs. Cura莽ao match. Portugal drew their first match against the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-1, while Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to Colombia. The upcoming match is crucial for both Portugal and Uzbekistan's qualification hopes. Notably, an Uzbek referee, Ilgiz Tantashov, recently officiated a match involving Morocco's Atlas Lions against Scotland.
Following Morocco's 1-0 victory over Scotland, coach Mohamed Ouahbi assessed the team's performance in the 2026 World Cup, where they have accumulated four points from two matches against Brazil and Scotland. Ouahbi highlighted the team's collective control and improved offensive intentions compared to their draw against Brazil. He noted that while Scotland played more directly with long balls, Morocco effectively countered their strategy. Despite their strong position, Ouahbi emphasized that qualification is not yet secured and the team's objective is to defeat Haiti in the final group match to ensure qualification and potentially secure first place. He also stated that he would field the best possible team against Haiti, considering player freshness, opponent profile, and match context, rather than systematically rotating the squad. Ouahbi also publicly supported captain Achraf Hakimi, who is facing legal proceedings, stating that Hakimi was focused, motivated the team, and played an excellent match. Ouahbi praised the team's mental fortitude and expressed confidence in their ability to advance to the round of sixteen as group leaders.
Bank Al-Maghrib has issued a warning to all banks regarding a global surge in cybercrime campaigns exploiting public interest in the 2026 World Cup. The central bank notes that these threats include the distribution of malware via fake applications or match streaming platforms, as well as phishing campaigns designed to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials and banking details. Bank Al-Maghrib urges banks to enhance customer awareness efforts and emphasize key vigilance rules. These include exercising caution before installing match-streaming applications, avoiding links received via email, SMS, or social media that offer broadcasts or promotional deals, verifying website authenticity before entering personal or banking data, and immediately reporting any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions to the bank. The central bank also instructs banking institutions to relay these vigilance messages to their customers through appropriate communication channels.