The interim Wali of the region, Mr Bouchaib El Moutaouakil emphasised the great economic potential and diversity of the region which covers 25% of the agricultural territory of Morocco with 4 million hectares of arable land. He said that "we are convinced that our businesses have the necessary initiative to adapt to markets and to ensure their access to new technologies and modern management methods". He also congratulated the conference over the choice of the theme which emphasised the importance of the regionalisation project.

He highlighted the potential of the region with plans for economic and social development focusing on industry, handicrafts, tourism, agriculture and fisheries.

The prospects for agro industry development along with major irrigation resources were very encouraging. The Toubkal Natural Park was also an important natural resource and eco-tourism offered important growth prospects.

Tourism in the region was seeing significant investments in real estate and services despite the global financial crisis. Mountain and trekking tourist offered considerable opportunities for investment and development.

The industrial site at Sidi Bou Othmane was making significant progress and offshoring offered exciting employment prospects with Tammansourt as an important element in the diversification called for in the Emergence plan. The Wali appealed for a redoubling of efforts by everyone working together for the successful realisation of durable development.

Mr Mohamed Horani President of the CGEM spoke about the action plan for 2010-2012. Moroccan businesses had to be adventurous and create the maximum value added content despite the economic crisis in sectors such as tourism, textiles, auto parts and manufacturing. The CGEM was helping with this effort to advance regionalisation according to the speech by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He said that the confederation consisted of 31 federations which were working for the regional development plan put in place for 2009-2012 with the aim of allowing SMES to develop their competitive capacity.

He emphasised that the Marrakech Tensfit Haouz region had important economic and investment potential, notably regarding SMES. He called on the leaders of enterprises to find an adequate platform for their organisations and to modernise and install new technologies. The aim was to create a profitable and real value added advantage. He said that the strategy of the CGEM for the 2020 vision is founded on studies of each region and its activities and the putting in place of trained personnel for attracting investments. He stressed the importance of public private sector partnerships in the creation of socio economic development.
Mr Hamid Narjisse President of the Regional Council for Marrakech Tensfit Al Haouz said that the region presented a dynamic situation. He felt the future of the region lay in local development in line with public and private sector and the policy of regionalisation. The region was a vector for national and international investment, in infrastructure and sustainable energy projects. The private sector was essential for the success of investment projects. Transport and human resources were also important factors and the local population and young people had to profit from training and efforts to ensure that they had the right qualifications. He felt it was essential to promote the diversification of the economy including the Marrakech offshore project.

The region had important resources in the industrial sector and training and diversification were important in maintaining this momentum. Sectoral development was a key element in overcoming the effects of the crisis. The CGEM and its 21 federations had created a new policy for regional development up to 2020 with an investment of 300 million dirhams in the next three years with the aim of creating two exhibition halls and an investment centre close to Marrakech to encourage professional trade contacts. Industrial efforts had to conform to environmental considerations.

Mr Youssef Mouhyi President of the CGEM regional union of Tensfit presented the sectors comprising the regional economy and the local investment opportunities. He recommended that the handicrafts sector should be expanded and that the development of branding "made in Marrakech" should be increased. The authorities had to facilitate logistics and transport and export zone activities and create a regional observatory to ensure permanent growth prospects of at least 2.4%.
There was a need to construct 10,000 domestic dwellings annually as the demand for the international real estate sector had diminished. The region had to project its attractions to investors and to reaffirm their confidence in the region's potential.

Mr Anis Birou Secretary of State for Artisans said that the development of the region is at the centre of economic and social strategy devised by the administration of Marrakech under the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. This strategy aims to give the region a new social solidarity and a basis for economic growth and local democracy. The region constituted a leaver for economic and social development which also contributed substantially to the promotion of investments that would provide a better standard of living for citizens.

He praised the region of Marrakech which occupies the 4th position amongst the 16 regions of the Kingdom in terms of business creation and the number of investment projects, the volume of new employment that it generates and new private investment. Handicrafts in the region are one of its key sectors as Marrakech is the first exporter of handicraft projects in Morocco with 65% of national exports worth 320 million dirhams. The total number of craftsmen was 120,480 which are nearly 38% of the active population of Marrakech and 9% of those employed in the industry nationally.

He felt this performance could be improved even further which is why a new regional development program for artisans (PDRA) was being developed for the 5 year period (2009-2013). The strategic objectives of the PDRA for Marrakech focus on the horizon of 2013. It aims to double the turnover realised in 2006 to reach 2.6 billion dirhams and to increase the figure for exports from 2006 by 2.5%
to reach 900 million dirhams by 2013. It will generate 111,000 new jobs which will be an increase of 25%. It would raise the numbers in training by 3,900 of which 3,200 will be apprentices 680 would be via residential courses.

Mr Birou highlighted certain problems which were holding up the development of the industry, notably insufficient production capacity with regard to demand and materials and techniques which are inadequate. Another problem in some instances was product quality which needed to be improved.

Mr Ahmed Reda Chami Minister of Industry, Foreign Trade and New Technologies gave a presentation on support programs for the development of SMES in the Marrakech Tensfit Al Haouz region. The contribution of the region to the national industry is of major importance. There are 472 businesses which amount to 6% of the national total. Production is 6.957 million dirhams 53% of the national total and Exports amount to 1.461 MDS (3% of the national total) with exports worth 1.461 million dirhams (3% of the national total). There are 541 Investment projects (2%) and value added 1.997 million dirhams (2%). Full time employment is 18,561 (4%).

The Minister remarked that the industrial sector showed a predominance of SMES (99%). The Agro industry sector had a very strong economic presence.

The development priorities were the tertiary sector and services, which includes Marrakech Offshore, a service centre and the development of higher level training: the agro industry sector with a regional subsidiary agro cluster, the creation of specialised IAA activity zones and centres for rural development. Health, sport and well being would be served by organising centres for health and sport.
The support programs for SMES stem from the national Emergence Industrial Plan signed in the presence of HM King Mohammed VI on 13 February 2009. It specified the development of industrial platforms for direct investment such as offshoring, auto industry, aeronautics and electronics and the traditional sectors of textiles and leather and agro industry. These will lead to a better business climate and more competitive SMES.

To help develop the competitive side of the SMES programs had been developed for banks to fund them at different stages of the business cycle. For those who are starting with a new SME there are public-private funds and PME sites. Businesses which have the growth potential and need credit can be assisted by the Imtiaz programme will help 50 businesses who have good growth potential and the Moussanada programme which will assist 500 selected businesses. Those businesses which are in difficulty or in need of restructuring there are public private funds.

The aims of the programme are to accelerate the creation of at least 100 SMES and to encourage the creation of new SMES by the creation through the state of 4 SME sites based on the regionalisation of the concept of Casablanca Technopark. There will also be attractive options for new businesses in terms of services and rents. P21 projects have been launched as well as the Technopark model for Maroc Numeric. Moussanada is for upgrading SMES. The second level is Imtiaz, state financial help in the form of investment to firm in project development.

The Marrakechshore project will be situated in the new town of Tamansourt.