The updated TPME charter, introduced in April by the Ministry of Industry and Trade aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and stability of small enterprises, is encountering increasing scrutiny from business experts who argue that it fails to represent the actual conditions within Morocco’s business environment and would affect roughly 0.02% of the nation’s commercial landscape.
In a statement, the Moroccan Confederation of Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises raised doubts about its actual effectiveness, citing its limited influence considering the scale of the business community.
The agreement focuses on approximately 800 companies each year, in contrast to over 4 million very small businesses and thousands of SMEs.
The Confederation stated that the proposed intervention would affect just 0.02% of the sector, a portion it finds excessively small considering the difficulties encountered by small enterprises.
Key components of the TPME charter
The TPME charter, managed by the National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (Maroc PME), is included in a state-agency plan spanning 2026 to 2030.
It is based on four key areas: organization, endurance, market advantage, and expansion to enhance small and medium enterprises and aid their progression through every phase.
The initial pillar emphasizes the growth of small and medium enterprises, both within the local area and on a global scale. The second one is dedicated to resilience, supporting companies in overcoming challenging times.
The third aspect addresses competitiveness by emphasizing quality, cost-effectiveness, and creativity. The fourth concentrates on providing small and medium enterprises with management tools and platforms to enhance governance and operational processes.
Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour stated that the present stage demands a change in strategy, transitioning from merely creating jobs to focusing on generating value and wealth to produce better-quality employment opportunities.
Key issues regarding the TPME charter
The Confederation stated that the measure is statistically insignificant, contending that it does not reflect the economic necessity or the extent of the discussion surrounding its introduction.
It mentioned that while officials emphasize widespread coverage across 12 regions, in reality, assistance is only available to a few established companies.
It also mentioned that the charter overlooks extremely small businesses and perpetuates the same issues as the “Forsa” program.
The Confederation stated it was not involved in the preparation and management of the agreement and criticized the involvement of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) during the initial phases of the pact’s development and oversight.
This highlights an institutional imbalance in the design of small-business policies, it stated, pointing out that the ministry responsible for small enterprises was either missing or overlooked during the negotiation process, while other departments, such as the Ministry of Tourism, were engaged.
It also claimed that “using a secondary ministry rather than the department in charge of small businesses indicates a flaw in policy strategy, increases institutional marginalization, and highlights inconsistencies in government actions.”
The Federation requested an examination of the initiative, involving small and medium enterprise representative organizations in decision-making processes and shifting assistance to more disadvantaged companies.
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