Speech of Mr President
Today, Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Services are considered key partners in achieving national economic development and essential actors in the implementation of the New Development Model. As constitutional institutions, they serve professionals, economic stakeholders, and the national economy. They are vested with broad mandates to represent merchants, industrialists, and service providers—supporting them and articulating their perspectives and ideas on various issues and matters relevant to their business sectors.
In light of the competencies granted to these Chambers under their new statutes, and in alignment with the insightful vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI—may God assist Him—as well as His directives emphasizing the need to establish a robust framework for Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Services nationwide, it is imperative to reorganize and develop them in response to the national and international shifts in economic policy. The objective is to enhance the role of these Chambers in economic development, as well as in the realms of diplomacy and institutional relations, ultimately transforming them into genuine catalysts for investment. As the new leadership of the Chamber—working alongside the Executive Board, the General Assembly, and the institution’s administrative staff for the 2021–2027 term—we aspire to operate according to an ambitious strategic plan that resonates with His Majesty’s vision. To this end, we have identified a set of priorities to be addressed as we formulate our strategic roadmap and develop an ambitious yet realistic action plan, aimed at strengthening the foundations of the regional economy and advancing the New Development Model. These priorities are as follows:
1- Contributing to unlocking the region’s economic potential, improving investment and business opportunities, and attracting new capital and projects—particularly in the region’s strategic sectors, such as automotive, textiles, agri-food, coastal, mountain, and cultural tourism, as well as other promising industries.
2- Enhancing territorial equity and ensuring economic integration across the region’s provinces and prefectures. This includes accelerating development in certain provinces and leveraging the region’s economic momentum and major structural projects—such as the Mediterranean port complex, the high-speed rail network, and renewable energy initiatives—to ensure that the resulting development benefits are accessible to all provinces.
3- Capitalizing on the new provisions set forth in Law 18.09 (the statute governing Chambers of Commerce and Industry) to foster cooperation with regional institutions—most notably the Regional Council, major local authorities, universities, and the Regional Investment Center—through the development of joint projects.
4- Prioritizing the capacity building of economic stakeholders. In this regard, we intend to launch targeted programs designed to provide training, guidance, and skill development for various professional groups, tailored to their specific fields of activity.
5- Providing a strong impetus for regional enterprises operating in the digital, green, and blue economy sectors; our commitment to these areas will help strengthen our nation’s international standing in the coming years.
6- Enhancing the Chamber’s communication mechanisms by leveraging modern technology to disseminate information to its members, the broader economic community, and investors, thereby providing comprehensive data and insights into the region’s economic climate. In this regard, drawing upon the experience and expertise accumulated through our practice and management within this institution, we firmly believe in the power of a participatory approach and collaborative action. We place great confidence in the significant potential inherent within our Chamber, as well as in our strong relationships with various partners—foremost among them being the regional Wilaya administration. We are certain that, with God’s help and strength, we will take essential steps toward transforming our Chamber into a leading economic institution that serves both the economy and the professionals within the sector.
– Abdelatif Afailal –
President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services for the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region