Casablanca – Morocco has taken a major step toward strengthening its industrial sector and expanding access to long-term financing, as 31 high-potential industrial companies were officially certified under the national “Growth” support program. The initiative, jointly led by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Casablanca Stock Exchange, is designed to prepare Moroccan manufacturers for expansion and eventual access to capital markets.

The certification ceremony took place in Casablanca and marked the successful completion of the program’s first cohort. The initiative was implemented with the support of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC). Officials described the program as a strategic effort to strengthen Morocco’s industrial ecosystem and position capital markets as a key source of financing for long-term economic development.

Preparing companies for long-term expansion

The 31 certified companies operate in strategic industrial sectors, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and para-chemicals, electrical equipment, and metallurgy. These sectors play a crucial role in Morocco’s industrial diversification and economic growth.

The selected companies completed an intensive preparation program designed to strengthen their internal structures and improve their readiness for expansion. The program combined group training sessions, practical workshops, and personalized mentoring to help company leaders improve governance, strengthen strategic planning, and enhance financial transparency.

Key areas of focus included preparing companies to open their capital to investors, identifying suitable financing solutions, improving corporate governance standards, and building strong investment narratives. This preparation helps companies clearly communicate their growth potential to investors and increases their ability to secure funding under favorable conditions.

The certification confirms that these companies now have stronger organizational and financial foundations, enabling them to better structure their growth strategies and engage with capital markets when appropriate.

Capital markets become a key financing channel

Morocco’s financial authorities view capital markets as an essential tool for supporting industrial expansion. Access to capital markets allows companies to raise long-term funding that can be used to finance investments, expand production capacity, support innovation, and enter new markets.

Officials emphasized that the objective of the program is not to push companies into immediate stock market listings, but rather to prepare them progressively. By strengthening governance, improving financial reporting, and enhancing strategic planning, the program helps companies become more attractive to investors and better positioned to secure funding.

This gradual approach aims to create a sustainable pipeline of industrial companies capable of accessing capital markets in the future, helping diversify financing sources beyond traditional bank lending.

Strengthening Morocco’s financial market infrastructure

The Casablanca Stock Exchange plays a central role in this national strategy. Established in 1929, the exchange has developed into one of Africa’s leading financial platforms. By the end of 2025, it hosted 80 listed companies with a total market capitalization of approximately $107.3 billion, highlighting its importance as a major financial hub in the region.

Authorities consider the stock exchange a strategic tool for mobilizing private investment and supporting economic growth. By encouraging more industrial companies to prepare for capital market participation, Morocco aims to strengthen its financial ecosystem and support long-term industrial development.

Improved access to capital markets also enhances financial transparency, strengthens corporate governance, and increases investor confidence in Moroccan companies.

Supporting industrial competitiveness and economic transformation

The “Growth” program, launched in October 2025, forms part of Morocco’s broader effort to modernize its industrial sector and strengthen economic resilience. The initiative aligns with national development priorities aimed at building a more competitive and diversified industrial base.

Moroccan industrial companies have demonstrated strong performance in recent years, particularly in export-oriented sectors such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, and food processing. Supporting high-potential companies helps accelerate this momentum and reinforces Morocco’s position as an industrial platform connecting Europe, Africa, and global markets.

By improving governance standards, strengthening financial management, and preparing companies for capital market financing, the program contributes to the emergence of stronger and more competitive industrial firms.

Expansion planned for future cohorts

Following the success of the first cohort, organizers have launched applications for the second and third groups of companies. This expansion reflects the partners’ commitment to ensuring the program’s continuity and extending its benefits to a larger number of industrial firms.

The long-term objective is to establish a continuous pipeline of Moroccan companies capable of accessing capital markets, strengthening their financial position, and supporting sustainable industrial growth.

This initiative also helps promote stronger coordination between public institutions, financial regulators, and private sector stakeholders, reinforcing Morocco’s broader economic development strategy.

A milestone in Morocco’s industrial development strategy

The certification of these 31 industrial companies represents an important milestone in Morocco’s industrial transformation. By preparing companies to meet capital market standards, the program helps strengthen corporate governance, improve financial transparency, and enhance investor confidence.

As more companies join future cohorts, the initiative is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting Morocco’s industrial expansion, attracting investment, and promoting long-term economic growth.

Through this program, Morocco is reinforcing the role of capital markets as a strategic financing tool and helping build a stronger, more competitive industrial sector capable of supporting sustainable economic development in the years ahead.