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Rabat - Morocco’s Industry and Trade Ministry signed on Wednesday a collaboration agreement with two state-backed institutions with the aim of supporting the proliferation of the country’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). 

With the aim of supporting industrial innovation and SMEs’ access to Research and Development (R&D) capabilities, the Industry ministry signed the agreement with the National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprise (Morocco SME), and the Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MASCIR), according to an official statement from the ministry.

Under the new agreement, the three parties pledge to work towards enhancing SMEs’ access to technical assistance, the statement indicates.

By providing technical assistance and R&D capabilities, the agreement eventually hopes to support SMEs in providing more market-competitive industrial product offerings, the statement adds.

As part of the new agreement, Maroc PME and MASCIR pledged to soon launch a number of support programs, including a technical support program that offers up to MAD 500,000 ($47,488) in state grants.

Commenting on the signing of the agreement, Morocco’s Industry and Trade Minister, Ryad Mezzour said: “Through this agreement, we will be able to support industrial innovation and R&D projects for the development of products carried out by Moroccan SMEs.”

He added that “companies eligible for this program will be able to benefit from investment support and have support from the Ministry in their industrialization.”

President of MASCIR, Hicham El Habti, said that “the contemporary entrepreneurial dynamics” that Morocco has been witnessing “requires rigorous technical and scientific support in order to stimulate competitive advantage.”

He added, “At MASCIR, we are delighted with this partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Morocco SMEs. Our commitment to put applied research at the service of the industry will be able to include more SMEs, which are a major component of the Moroccan entrepreneurial fabric.” 

Source: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/09/351100/ministry-of-industry-moroccan-foundation-join-forces-to-support-smes