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This chapter examines different aspects of the legal system in Morocco, in conjunction with Lefèvre Pelletier & associés, focusing on recent banking reforms and the impact of new rules relating to health care and the real estate sector. It also cointains a viewpoint by Romain Berthon and Lina Fassi-Fihri, Partners, Lefèvre Pelletier & associés.

This chapter takes a closer look at the rules governing taxation in Morocco, examining in particular the changes made to pension insurance contracts and to the payment of value-added tax. It also contains a viewpoint by Kamal Mokdad, Managing Partner, Mazars Morocco.

Although total expenditure on health per capita has stayed fairly constant in Morocco, advances have been made to improve the provision and delivery of health care. A 2011 constitutional amendment enshrined access to health care as a basic right, with increasing amounts of public financing going towards expanding health services, although work remains to extend coverage to uninsured segments of the population. The country has also made significant headway in reducing both maternal and child mortality rates. Alongside an epidemiological shift away from infectious diseases, increased longevity and changes in lifestyle mean that around 75% of deaths in Morocco today are related to chronic diseases, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the sector in the coming decades. This chapter contains an interview with Hubert de Ruty, President, Maroc Innovation et Santé.

Considerable advances have been made in increasing enrolment levels, with net primary school enrolment reaching 98% in 2013, up from 85% in 2003, although challenges remain in ensuring adequate access to education in rural areas. The government has worked to improve infrastructure through the rehabilitation of schools and the involvement of the private sector. An emphasis on vocational training is expected to help match graduates’ skills with the demands of the labour market, reducing high rates of youth unemployment, while another major focus over the coming years will be to increase scientific research output at Moroccan universities. This chapter contains interviews with Lahcen Daoudi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Tarafa Marouane, Chairman, Commission of Research and Development, General Confederation of Moroccan Companies.

The Rawaj Vision 2020 development plan devised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and New Technologies aims to grow the retail sector’s contribution to GDP from 11% to 15% and generate 450,000 new jobs. As consumer confidence returns to the economy, new mall developments have sprung up, alongside an influx of foreign brands and franchises into the country. Although it continues to be dominated by informal trade and businesses, the advent of dedicated retail space is changing consumer habits in Morocco, and Rawaj Vision 2020 aims to restructure and gradually absorb informal activity into the formal economy. This chapter contains an interview with Zouhair Bennani, CEO, Best Financière Group.

Despite grappling with the challenges of political instability in North Africa and the impact of the eurozone crisis in Europe, Morocco continues to pursue the objective identified in its national tourism development plan, Vision 2020, of becoming a top-20 tourism destination by 2020. The sector already contributes 12% of GDP, supports around 505,000 direct jobs and is an important foreign exchange earner, generating up to €6.2bn in 2014. Alongside efforts to expand Morocco’s air links and attract more visitors from abroad, however, the government has also targeted increases in the number of domestic tourists through marketing campaigns and building hospitality infrastructure that caters to the needs of local holidaymakers. This chapter contains interviews with Imad Barrakad, President, Société Marocaine d’Ingénierie Touristique; and Abdelatif Kabbaj, President, National Confederation of Tourism.