ENCG Settat: Conference Examines Financing and Growth Mechanisms for MSMEs in the Casablanca–Settat Region
The Regional Council of Casablanca–Settat organized, on Monday at the National School of Commerce and Management (ENCG) in Settat, a conference under the theme “MSMEs, Growth and the Transition to the Expansion Phase: Financing Growth within a Major Economic Hub.”
According to a statement from the region, the meeting, which was attended by the President of the Casablanca–Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, representatives from Tamwilcom and Maroc PME, as well as members of the Regional Council and elected officials, provided an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges facing these enterprises, particularly regarding financing mechanisms and institutional support.
In this context, emphasis was placed on the particular importance the region attaches to supporting entrepreneurship and MSMEs, which are considered a key driver of regional economic growth, a source of job creation, and a pillar for strengthening the local productive fabric.
Several initiatives and programs launched by the region in partnership with various institutional and economic stakeholders were highlighted during the conference. These initiatives aim to improve the business climate, facilitate business creation, and support companies throughout the different stages of their development, while also encouraging innovation and high value-added projects.
Among these initiatives is the “Machrou3i” program, which supports 30 project holders each year over a three-year period, with financing provided for 90 projects.
Other programs focus on youth empowerment and integration through sports-based education spaces and entrepreneurial support initiatives in the sports sector. Another initiative, the Cultural and Creative Industries Platform program aimed at young people, enabled 60 beneficiaries, including 19 women, to receive training and facilitated the integration of 48 beneficiaries into the labor market.
The projects also include a training program in hospitality and restaurant trades for young people who are out of school or not integrated into the labor market (NEETs), as well as a specialized program in web development and digital content creation that has benefited 253 young participants.
In addition, a program dedicated to the development of scientific research and university innovation has been launched in partnership with the three universities within the region, with the objective of encouraging student entrepreneurship and the creation of startups.
These initiatives also include the establishment of a research, development, and innovation center in science and engineering in Mohammedia, carried out in partnership with the Foundation for Research, Development and Innovation in Science and Engineering (FRDISI), which has benefited more than 2,000 young people. The projects also involve support for companies operating in the social and solidarity economy, in partnership with the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), and the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination between public stakeholders and financial institutions in order to better support project leaders and help businesses overcome challenges related to financing and market access.
Editorial team/le7tv
