How has Morocco responded to the Covid-19 outbreak?

En Français

As part of its ongoing research on the impact of Covid-19 on emerging market economies, Oxford Business Group’s Regional Editor for Africa, Souhir Mzali, recently interviewed Morocco’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, to talk about the impact of Covid-19 on Morocco’s industrial sector as well as its implications for digitalisation efforts and sustainable development.

The interview forms part of the research conducted in the framework of the first Morocco Covid-19 Response Report, produced in partnership with the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency, which provides an in-depth analysis of Morocco’s response to the pandemic through key data, case studies, infographics and an exclusive survey carried out with the country’s business community.

The agility and anticipation with which Morocco moved in to mitigate the effects of the crisis have enabled it to gradually ease Covid-19 related restrictions and slowly resume economic activity. While businesses at large witnessed somewhat of a slowdown at the start of the outbreak, most took a collaborative approach to support national efforts in the fight against Covid-19 with players in the textile sector, for example, coming together to manufacture protective masks to help meet domestic and international demand.

Having set the foundations prior to Covid-19 to develop its digital and green economy, Morocco was well placed when the pandemic arose to take on challenges head on, making considerable progress in streamlining administrative procedures and ensuring citizens were able to safely access essential goods.

Watch the interview below in French, or click here to watch with English voice over