The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of the Tangier – Tetouan – Al Hoceima (CCISTTA) includes the prefecture of Tangier – Asila and the Moroccan provinces of Fahs Anjara, Tetouan, Finideq, Larache, Ouazzane, Chefchaouen, and Al Hoceima. From its foundation in 1947, this institution has provided support to local companies by facilitating investment and import & export processes, fostering entrepreneurship in the region, and seeking for synergies and new ways of collaboration among SMEs, research and innovation centers, and public institutions. On the other hand, this chamber of commerce is committed to advance towards the digital transformation of the local companies and the sustainable transition in the region. In the following interview, the President of the institution Mr. Afailal Abdelatif, reflects on the key role of the chamber of commerce in the economic development of the region in the last 80 years and also about the current and future challenges to face.
What has been the chamber’s contribution to the economic development of the region of Tangier – Tetouan – El Houcema?
Our chamber of commerce plays a vital role in driving economic development, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in the region. CCISTTA represents the interests of professionals in the region through making proposals on all issues, such as legislative and regulatory texts, management plans or economic projects, certificates of origin for exporting goods and professional’s cards, apart from solving their current claims and concerns. In addition, our chamber helps the private sector by building regional development strategies, showcasing the region’s potential, facilitating investment processes, and providing information to investors. Support and promotion are a vital role attributed to chambers allowing them to carry out support and assistance actions for businesses, training, mediation, development of economic information, incubation, territorial promotion, organizing workshops and seminars aimed at developing the skills of the local workforce.
What milestones would you highlight from the constitution of the CCISTTA in 1947?
There are some many key moments to highlight from the 80 years of the Chamber’s history. From the point of view of our contribution to the economic development of the region, we should talk about the opening of the House of Green and Solidarity Economy in Ouazzane (including a showroom for local products, a cooperative incubator, and a training center), the incubator for entrepreneurship and training in Port Tardes at Fahs Anjra, the organization of the 15th edition of the Commercial Days in Tetouan, the partnership agreements with relevant economic leaders, B2B meetings and the new Mediterranean Specialized Institute of Management (ISMM) created in 2007. In addition, we organized training sessions addressed to all middle managers and CEOs of the different companies in the region, such as the training offer through the Higher School of Commerce ESC Tetouan. Finally, I would like to highlight the many events that we have organized during this period, such as the three editions of Industrial Zones Forum in Tangier, the first edition of the Business Forum in Al Hoceima or the reception of ambassadors and commissions representing many institutions and sectors around the world.
What are the main requests you have from local businesses? What are their main challenges at this moment?
Our members usually require information updated, training and networking to develop their business and access to financing to start or expand their operations. They may seek loans, grants, or other financial assistance to invest in equipment, inventory or infrastructure. In addition, local businesses may seek assistance in accessing new markets, both domestically and internationally. This may involve support with market research, export promotion, and networking opportunities. On the other hand, one of the most challenges facing nowadays by businesses is about recruiting and retaining skilled workers. For this reason, they usually request for workforce training and development programs to address skill gaps and enhance employee productivity. Back to current world context related to climate change, with growing awareness of environmental and social issues, businesses seek assistance in implementing sustainability initiatives, including reducing their environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility practices. We also respond to requests from traders, manufacturers, and service providers regarding support with technology adoption, including digitalization and automation, that are becoming increasingly common to improve efficiency and competitiveness for local businesses.
Local companies may seek for help in accessing new markets, both nationally and internationally. This can include help with market research, export promotion and networking. We also help these companies to implement sustainable development initiatives, such as reducing their environmental footprint and promoting socially responsible practices
Could you tell us about your chamber’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship in the region?
We provide support in terms of business creation procedure facilitation, training, information and helping business stablish accounting. We also have incubators in Fahs Anjra, Tetouan, Ouazzane and Al Hoceima, apart from two business centers in Tangier and Al Hoceima. We have other incubators in preparation, such as a Traders House in Tetouan, an Entrepreneur House in Larache, and a Tourist House in Chefchaoun which are developed according to the vocation of each region. As I commented before, we also offer access finance solutions and programs to all the entrepreneurs. With this aim we organize specific training sessions, provide support to develop business plans and feasibility studies. I would also like to highlight the partnership agreements established with start-ups founders to facilitate the procedure of submissions and to access to information. Proof of this is the recent NORDEV Programme (Northerm Fund for Development and Investment dedicated to supporting business, attracting investmernt and helping people enter the job market) hosted by CCISTTA with the ownership of the Regional Council of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.
We would also like to ask you about the Trader Training Center, addressed to chamber’s members to enhance their skills in the field of management and marketing. What is the main outcome from this training courses?
Currently, traders face several challenges related to modernizing their businesses. Therefore, our Trader Training Center aims at tackling skills development, e-commerce promotion, and regulatory compliance. Regarding the first point -skills development-, as business processes become more digitalized, traders need to upskill their workforce to adapt to new technologies and workflows. In this sense, the training center organized last year 5 training courses for traders in e-commerce and e-marketing, other training courses in digitalization, banking competency, financial education, marketing and customer prospecting, digital marketing and the tax systema for enterprises. I would like to highlight the WE-FI Programme, in coordination with the World Bank, for training women in e-commerce.
What kind of initiatives and actions did your chamber launch to foster connections among project holders, investors, entrepreneurs, SMEs, research and innovation centers and public institutions?
Firstly, CCISTTA is working in narrow collaboration with the regional Council of Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima for establishing and implementing the regional program of development in convergence with local policies and strategic orientations. Secondly, apart from having a seat on the administrative council of the Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, CCISTTA signed last year a partnership agreement with the university to both promote research and development initiatives and explore new ways of collaboration. In addition, in the last two years our institution significantly increased the number of partnerships signed with public institutions at national level, such as the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills, Tangier and Tetouan Municipalities, Regional Tourism Delegation, Wafa Bank or BMCE Bank. At an international, CCISTTA signed partnership agreements with the following institutions: the Arab British Chamber of Commerce in Morocco, the High Authority for Advocacy in Madrid -to activate the Mediation and the Arbitration Center-. Besides, we signed three agreements at the Moroccan-Lybian Forum and we are partners of the REBOOMED Programme and participate at MedaWomen event organizated by ASCAME.
The chamber of commerce is heavily involved in promoting entrepreneurship in the region, providing support in the form of business start-up procedures, incubators, solutions and access to finance programs
What is the key to revitalize products internationally, and to support and encourage current or potential exporters in the region of Tangier – Tetouan -El Hoceima?
Recently, we launched several actions in partnership with ASMEX (Moroccan Association of Exporters) to promote exportations, such as networking meetings to boost regional export offers, trade contracts and trade exchange security. Thanks to this partnership we organized a workshop for the food and cosmetic industry sector, targeting entrepreneurs in the region who are interested in exporting to the Canadian market. We also organized a meeting on investment and export in the region and a seminar under the theme ‘The royal initiative to open coastal countries to the Atlantic Ocean: Mechanisms for revitalizing international trade and the maritime sectors’.
What are the main investment opportunities in your region? Why now is the best moment to invest in?
The region occupies a strategic location in the south of the Strait of Gibraltar, at the crossroads of some of the world’s busiest international maritime trade routes. Furthermore, it represents the closest African area to Europe and serves as a bridge between the two continents. Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima has several free zones that are considered the most important activity hub in the region. The automotive, aerospace, textile and services sectors have significantly contributed to the growth of these zones, which currently host many companies. As the Kingdom’s second industrial hub, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region currently has 5,000 hectares of industrial and logistics zones oriented towards emerging sectors, of which approximately 2,500 hectares are already developed and operational. Considering the near saturation of industrial zones in the region to address the scarcity of land dedicated to industrial investment, new activity zones have been developed, including Tanger Tech spanning an area of 1,190 hectares in Tangier. Apart from this, there are other interesting key figures to highlight: hosting the largest port in the continent -Tanger MED Port-, increasing urbanization rate -61% in 2022-, third economic region in the country -11% of GDP-, 44,6% employment rate, strategic position in the Mediterranean -crossing point of two seas and two continents-, connectivity and infrastructure, 5 wind farms, 1 thermic station and 12% of national renewable power.
How do chambers of commerce may contribute to a more prosperous, peaceful and sustainable Mediterranean region?
The Mediterranean chambers of commerce play a pivotal role in enhancing cooperation among many countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, so efforts should be consolidated towards achieving the same target of building a prosperous, peaceful and sustainable Mediterranean. In this sense, all the countries of the region should joint forces to work altogether on common pilot projects actively engaging with SDGs to build more sustainable, resilient and inclusive economies and communities. In the current constant global changing context, Mediterranean chambers should tackle collective action to develop a new service catalog axed on digitalization, territorial cohesion, and promotion of entrepreneurship. As chambers are founded and operated by entrepreneurs who possess the most comprehensive understanding of genuine needs, they should be the owner of knowledge development and sharing related to the sectors they are representing.
In your opinion, the companies’ challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean are very different from the other countries of the region?
Companies in the Eastern Mediterranean are encountering various challenges dominated by regulatory complexities, infrastructure limitations, access to finance, skilled labor shortages, and market volatility. Being optimistic about the future will not help shape the progress curve, thus specific actions should be run at a high-level rate to boost chambers’ contribution in advocating and resolving companies’ issues. All the chambers should provide help and support to the Mediterranean companies to ensure their green and digital transition. Collective intelligence will make the real difference to face challenges in short term by sharing best practices and global skills development.