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Health care services in Morocco have evolved in line with the country’s epidemiological transition, facilitated by heightened surveillance of health-related conditions and the maturing role carried out by the private sector. Developments have tracked objectives outlined in the country’s long-term strategy, Vision 2020. In its 2012-16 phase, reforms have aimed primarily at consolidating past gains but also addressing new needs, with a particular focus on restructuring emergency services, promoting family medicine, developing rural health care, extending national coverage schemes and developing human resources. Broader health coverage and the gradual expansion of medical services bode well for the future of the sector. The challenge that lies ahead is to ensure even distribution of facilities and medical staff as demand for health services rises. This chapter contains an interview with Ahmed El Bahri, Managing Director, Cheikh Khalifa Ibn Zaid Foundation.

Agriculture accounts for around 14% of GDP and 35-40% of jobs in Morocco. Driven in large part by the national agricultural policy, the Green Morocco Plan (Plan Maroc Vert, PMV), the sector’s GDP contribution increased by 57% between 2008 and 2015 to reach Dh115bn (€10.5bn). Among the key changes in the sector since the launch of the PMV is a shift in structure: Moroccan agriculture today is less dependent on cereals output for growth. Results borne of this strategy became most evident when, at the start of the 2015/16 agricultural season, severe droughts hit the country, leaving little hope for prosperous cereal yields. The increased value addition, however, is expected to offset the decline in upstream cereals production. In addition, efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change are playing a significant role in improving the sector’s resilience. This chapter contains an interview with Mohammed Fikrat, CEO, Cosumar.

Welcoming more than 10m tourists annually since 2014, Morocco is Africa’s top tourism destination by foreign arrivals, the result of a decade of steady development under the framework of two successive sector development plans, Vision 2010 and Vision 2020. Despite an increasingly challenging regional environment, the sector has proved resilient thanks to the kingdom’s political stability, with only a minor drop in tourist arrivals in 2015. Authorities are expecting the sector to pick up in 2016, driven by increased air connectivity, further diversification of source markets and a more specialised tourism supply. This chapter contains an interview with Omar Kabbaj, CEO, Interedec.

While Morocco’s retail sector remains fairly limited, an expanding middle class, increasing urbanization and a more competitive formal sector are set to drive the industry in the coming years. Strong economic growth has seen malls and supermarkets proliferate, drawing an increasing number of foreign brands and franchises into the country. Although the traditional, informal sector continues to dominate – particularly in rural areas – changing consumer habits and a heightened awareness of quality bode well for the industry’s future.

Already by far Morocco’s largest city and its economic capital, Casablanca is currently going through a major period of redevelopment. Planned large-scale works include substantial improvements to infrastructure, construction and renovation of leisure and cultural facilities, and expansion of the public transport network to make the city a more attractive place for residents and tourists alike. Launched in late 2014, a major new growth strategy, the 2015-20 Casablanca Strategic Development Plan, outlines a vision for the city as a well-connected and inclusive financial centre that is also an appealing place to live and visit. New industries are also emerging in the city. This chapter contains interviews with Abdelaaziz Omari, Mayor of Casablanca; and Mohamed Aouzai, Governor of Urban Agency of Casablanca.

Since its liberalisation in 1997, Morocco’s telecoms sector has experienced substantial growth driven by the entry of new operators, a rapid increase in mobile subscribers and rising consumption of voice and data services. Despite the sector’s potential, user revenue growth has slowed in recent years due to fierce price competition among the main providers. Operators seeking new springboards for growth are therefore exploring a capital-intensive push towards data offerings. In the IT sector, having made an early drive for development in the mid-1990s, Morocco has managed to carve out a sizeable niche for itself in selected areas such as offshoring and electronic payments. The government is now working on a new strategy, Plan Maroc Numeric 2020 – a successor to the previous Plan Maroc Numeric 2013 – aimed at building on the country’s international position in cost-competitive IT services, while emphasising greater diversification and entrepreneurship. This chapter contains an interview with Nadia Fassi-Fehri, CEO, Inwi.