Morocco encourages and develops entrepreneurship in the following ways:
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Governmental plan for 100% literacy rate by 2015 and 100% primary enrolment in 2010. Today, net primary enrolment ratio is 90% (vs. 50% a few years ago). However, many rural zones are still not served well, courses are quite short and the adult literacy rate was only 50% in 2002 (vs. 80% for young people). |
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Women are encouraged to take a growing role in business life (AFEM encourages female entrepreneurs) – they currently account for 25% of the labour force but most of them work in the informal sector. It is estimated that 10% of companies (excluding the micro-enterprise sector) are owned or run by women. |
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Tax abatements or exonerations (profit tax, corporate tax and/or VAT) for companies that go public or invest in certain areas (e.g. free zone) or industries (e.g. tourism, export, mines, education and training). |
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Association Marocaine pour la Création d’Entreprise (Moroccan Council for Enterprise Set-up). |
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Creation of the first Regional Forum on the Enterprise Incubation by the Ministry of Economic and General Affairs. |
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Creation of the National Agency for SMEs (ANPME) in 2003, integrating 16 regional investment centres (CRI) into a new national SME support network. |
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To give access to funding and markets, several guarantee funds have been set up to facilitate credit access to SMEs (FONDAM, Oxygene, MEDA I). |
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Simplification of the conditions to create and set up a small business and assistance provided on quality / training / innovation issues. Launch of incubators. |
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Foreign nationals can invest freely in all sectors, without any preliminary authorisation. Between 2004 and 2005, FDI in Morocco increased from $1.07 billion to $2.9 billion. |
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Morocco has many expatriates in Europe (especially in France). |
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Association of Moroccan students in France aiming to develop entrepreneurial spirit among Moroccan students in Morocco, France and elsewhere. Objective: to encourage enterprising people to return to Morocco. |
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Its aim is to encourage entrepreneurship among Moroccan expatriates. It targets young, innovative companies and provides them with financial support and help in exchange for minority capital participation. |
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Another positive factor that is influencing the situation for business and entrepreneurs in Morocco is the authorities’ intention to develop the economy by targeting the following core sectors through specific initiatives. |
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CasaShore, RabatShore, MarrakechShore, TangerShore. |
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Free zone in the Tanger area targeting outsourcing activities from European businesses (e.g. electronic, automotive, aeronautics). |
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The geographic and political proximity of Europe – and France in particular - is another source of support for Morocco. Many development projects are co-financed, and European credits still account for a large part of available funding. |
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