Latest news with #GeneralConfederationofMoroccanEnterprises
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
CGEM Delegation Begins Mission in Korea to Boost Economic Cooperation
Rabat – A delegation from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) started a mission in Seoul, Korea, on Monday. The goal is to strengthen economic ties and explore new opportunities for cooperation and investment between Moroccan and Korean companies. Led by CGEM President Chakib Alj, the group includes businesses from various sectors such as automotive, plastics, chemical and para-chemical industries, food processing, heavy industry, pharmaceuticals, mining, renewable energy, and new technologies. The first stop for the delegation was the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). Chafik Rachadi, Morocco's ambassador to Korea, joined the visit. Wonsok Yun, commissioner of IFEZ, introduced the delegation to the dynamic business environment of the zone, which hosts over 300 foreign companies involved in manufacturing and research and development. A highlight of the visit was the Smart City Integrated Operation Center (SCIOC). Operating since 2012, this center manages important city services in real time, such as traffic control, emergency response, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure maintenance. The delegation also visited the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM) in Suwon, near Seoul. This museum showcases the history of Samsung's key innovations, from early electrical devices to the latest technological solutions. The mission will continue until June 13. It includes meetings with leading Korean companies, professional organizations like the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), as well as business-to-business meetings and sector-specific sessions. The trip is expected to pave the way for stronger economic partnerships between Morocco and Korea. By engaging directly with key Korean companies and institutions, the delegation aims to attract investment, foster joint ventures, and open new export markets for Moroccan products. The meetings and sector-specific sessions also aim to lead to technology transfers, enhanced industrial cooperation, and the development of strategic sectors in line with Morocco's national priorities. Tags: CGEMeconomyMorocco and Korea
Morocco World
05-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Survey: 72% of Private Companies Reject Government's Eid Holiday Decision
Rabat – The Moroccan government's recent decision to declare Monday, June 9, a public holiday for Eid Al Adha has triggered widespread discontent among private companies. A survey conducted by the HR-focused platform shows that 72% of private sector respondents oppose the move, citing operational pressure and legal ambiguity. The decision applies exclusively to public administration and territorial collectivities, leaving private companies without a clear framework. Many found themselves scrambling to respond to an unexpected situation, with HR departments forced to balance internal expectations, workflow continuity, and a complete absence of formal guidance. The survey, conducted on June 2 and 3 and involving 143 respondents, reflects a general sense of unease within the private sector. Nearly half of the HR professionals surveyed viewed the move as a sign of disregard for the particular constraints of private businesses. For companies operating under tight delivery schedules or complex logistics, such a late decision created tension. A significant number also pointed to the announcement's timing as a problem, arguing that the lack of preparation time undermined stability within organizations. By June 3, only 17% of companies had confirmed granting the holiday to their entire workforce. Another 22% were considering it under certain conditions, such as ensuring service continuity or requiring employees to make up for the lost time. Meanwhile, 28% intended to maintain regular operations, and 32% were still undecided, just six days before the date in question. The lack of a unified response across companies illustrated a deeper fragmentation in HR practices. With no clear recommendation from authorities or professional associations, companies responded based on internal culture, immediate pressures, and perceived risks. Some leaned toward aligning with the public sector, while others prioritized production timelines or internal stability. Among those choosing not to implement the holiday, the reasoning was largely operational. Respondents cited staffing shortages, delivery obligations, and the difficulty of maintaining client relationships without sufficient personnel. Some feared a rise in spontaneous absenteeism, while others anticipated client dissatisfaction or workflow breakdowns. Budgetary concerns, contrary to expectations, played only a minor role in decision-making according to the survey. Most HR professionals pointed instead to the challenge of preserving performance under tight deadlines, particularly for SMEs and industrial businesses. For these firms, an unplanned day off could disrupt the value chain and delay output in ways that ripple beyond a single day. The survey also shows dissatisfaction with the role, or lack thereof, played by major business organizations. Many felt that the decision should have come with clearer guidance. The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) suggestion to treat June 9 as a day off 'where possible' was seen as insufficiently decisive, adding to confusion rather than resolving it. A majority of HR managers expressed the need for stronger coordination mechanisms. Many called for formal frameworks that would regulate how exceptional public holidays are handled in the private sector. Others proposed regular dialogue between business groups and public authorities to better anticipate the social and economic impact of such announcements. The absence of consultation or clear policy direction has once again exposed the vulnerability of the private sector to abrupt government decisions. While most HR professionals did not object to the principle of a holiday, they expressed a need for structure, foresight, and legal clarity, elements they saw as entirely missing from this decision. Tags: Al Adha holidayEid Al AdhaHolidayMorocco
Morocco World
04-06-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Eid al Adha: Morocco Announces Recommendations for Safe Road Travel
Rabat – The Moroccan National Motorway Company (ADM) has warned that the motorway network will experience a significant increase in traffic during the Eid al Adha holiday. The highway authority said it offers a series of recommendations to ensure travelers' safety, noting that heavy traffic could be expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Traffic could also be high on Monday, June 9, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., said the same source. The statement urged travelers to plan their trips in advance, check real-time traffic conditions by downloading the ADM Traffic app. In addition, the Moroccan authority called on citizens to verify and recharge their Jawaz Pass balance before using the motorway. Jawaz is a plan dedicated to facilitating highway stop payments. The highway authority further called on citizens to stay informed about weather alerts, take breaks every two hours, and check the mechanical condition of their vehicles, including tire condition. The statement reassured citizens that it will operate in high alert mode, reinforcing traffic management and roadside assistance teams as well as strengthening communication with users. Morocco will celebrate Eid Al Adha on Saturday, and the government has exceptionally announced Monday, June 9, as a day off for the public sector. Chakib Alj, the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), urged private sector companies to grant employees a day off on Monday, June 9, aligning with the public sector , in celebration of Eid Al-Adha. In response, several private companies have also granted their employees Monday as a day off. In the same spirit, the Moroccan Professional Banking Group (GPBM) has announced that June 9 will be a holiday for banks. 'Each bank is responsible for informing its employees and clients of this decision,' the group said on Monday, noting that banking institutions will also take the necessary measures to ensure an adequate supply of banknotes and the continuous and smooth operation of ATMs. Eid Al Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The feast falls on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah — the twelfth and the last month in the Islamic calendar. Eid Al Adha will have a different feel to it this year, with Morocco having canceled the sacrifice ritual. King Mohammed VI announced the cancellation of the sacrifice ritual in February, citing challenges like drought.
Morocco World
02-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
CGEM Urges Morocco's Private Sector to Grant June 9 Holiday for Eid Al Adha
Rabat – Chakib Alj, the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), has urged the private sector companies to grant employees a day off on Monday, June 9, aligning with the public sector, in celebration of Eid Al-Adha, which will take place on Saturday, June 7 in Morocco. Last week, the government decided to exceptionally suspend work in state administrations and local authorities on Monday, June 9. CGEM called on companies to follow suit, noting: 'We invite, as far as possible, private sector companies to also grant Monday, June 9, as a day off to their employees,' Alj said. Eid Al Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Islamic month marks Eid Al Adha or the sacrifice feast, which commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah's command. Dhu Al Hijjah also marks the Hajj pilgrimage, which will commence on June 4. While the feast is a sacred and special time in Morocco, Moroccans will celebrate it differently this time. In February, Morocco announced its decision to cancel the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual due to drought and a notable decrease in the country's livestock population due to dry seasons that affected Morocco's agriculture sector for six years in a row. This is not the first time Morocco has canceled the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual. The first time dates back to 1963 when the late King Hassan II announced the cancellation of the sacrifice ritual during the Sand War between Morocco and Algeria, as it affected the two countries' economies. The second time was in 1981, and the cancellation was due to drought, as well as in 1996. Last week, ONCF announced that it has expanded the train schedule ahead of Eid Al Adha from May 30 to June 15 to help travelers move easily and safely during the holiday. The program includes up to 237 trains per day across the national network. ONCF also pledged to add extra trains on the main routes to help passengers during busy times. Tags: Eid Al Adhaeid al adha 2025
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Plans to Export 3,000 Vehicles to Egypt Per Year
Rabat — Morocco aims to export 3,000 vehicles yearly to the Egyptian market, according to Egypt-Morocco Business Council President Nizar Abu Ismail. The initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to rebalance trade between the two countries, he said in an interview with Al Borsa News. Speaking of the current trade situation between the two countries, Abu Ismail pointed out that Egyptian investments in the North African country now exceed $700 million. Meanwhile, a potential major project led by an Egyptian businessman entails developing an integrated tourist city in one of Morocco's coastal regions, according to the council's president, adding that it could attract over $500 million in investments over the next three to four years. 'This tourism project is one of Egypt's largest in North Africa,' Abu Ismail explained, saying that it will contribute to the creation of significant job opportunities, as well as 'establish an attractive investment environment, opening new horizons for cooperation' between Morocco and Egypt. Looking ahead, he estimated that nearly 30 Egyptian companies have shown interest in investing in Morocco through building new factories in the country within the next three years. This expansion strategy aims to increase Egyptian investments across North Africa and leverage the advantages of the Moroccan market — particularly its geographic proximity to Europe and free trade agreements that enable easier access to Western and African markets. Speaking of the sectors, Abu Ismail said that companies that have shown interest so far operate across various sectors, including agri-food, manufacturing, food supplements, automotive parts, the fishing industry, and fishing vessels. These developments come following recent economic advancements between the two countries, bolstering bilateral trade ties through the creation of an Egyptian 'Fast Track' system designed to streamline access for Moroccan exports into the Egyptian market. Morocco and Egypt held earlier this month a significant Egypt-Morocco Investment and Trade Forum in Cairo, bringing together officials, economic players, and business leaders from both countries. The forum was held during a Moroccan economic delegation visit to Egypt, initiated by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), aiming to boost Moroccan products' presence in the Egyptian market. Read also: Morocco and Egypt Boost Trade Relations with 'Fast Track' Agreement
