The third panel of the Agadir–Souss-Massa International Forum on Industry and Services brought together experts on Tuesday around a central question: how can the region’s industrial base be effectively supported as it scales up? The answer, unanimous in principle, pointed to the need for an integrated ecosystem combining tailored financing, close banking support and investment tools designed with local realities firmly in mind.
Under the theme “Industrial acceleration: financing solutions and programmes”, speakers stressed the importance of building a coherent financial architecture in which long-term equity resources, bank lending and innovation work in synergy. In their view, only such a structure can turn the region’s industrial ambitions into concrete projects capable of generating value and employment.
Mohamed Karim Chraïbi, Executive Director and Head of the Souss-Massa-Sahara region at Attijariwafa Bank, recalled his group’s long-standing commitment to the region’s potential, in support of existing public schemes. “This has been a conviction for many years,” he said, citing Tamwilcom and the Mohammed VI Investment Fund as levers that are already operational.
Private equity as a structuring lever for SMEs
The panel also focused on the need for private equity to sustainably strengthen the balance sheets of local companies. Badr Alioua, CEO of Sterling Capital and Chair of the CGEM’s Financing & Investment Commission, underlined the importance of close dialogue with businesses in order to design relevant tools. “Capital follows profitability,” he said, calling for the rapid rollout of bespoke solutions to capture current reshoring dynamics.
Taoufiq Fennich, CEO of investment bank Valoris, shared a similar assessment. In his view, Morocco already has a full range of instruments—equity markets, bond debt and specialised funds—but these remain overly concentrated on large corporates. He proposed the creation of regional debt funds, co-financed by Regional Investment Centres, to better channel long-term resources to industrial SMEs.
Towards a territorial and inclusive financial engineering model
All panellists agreed on the need for a territorialised financial strategy: close banking relationships for very small and small businesses, debt or equity funds to consolidate corporate structures, and venture capital to drive technological innovation. These conditions were seen as essential to sustainably position Souss-Massa within regional and international industrial value chains.
This third panel formed part of the Forum’s dense programme, organised by Industrie du Maroc Magazine and the Souss-Massa Regional Investment Centre, in partnership with the Wilaya, the Regional Council, the local CGEM and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services. The event aims to bring forward concrete, coordinated solutions in support of territorial development.
