The Ministry of Industry and Trade signed, Tuesday in Rabat, two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to develop the Moroccan textile sector and support its energy transition.
The first memorandum of understanding was signed by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Manager for the Maghreb and Djibouti, Xavier Reille, and President of the Moroccan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industries (AMITH), Anass El Ansari. It aims to promote sustainable development in the textile sector.
This memorandum, which aims to decarbonize and promote the Moroccan textile and clothing sector and to develop circular production, will enable the sector to benefit from the strategic and transformational projects of the International Finance Corporation and to raise awareness and support the training of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in circular practices.
This memorandum also aims to support companies to adopt new business practices and modern technologies, including technical upgrades and the achievement of expansion plans and/or access to capital, in addition to encouraging international brands to purchase from Morocco and fund global producers of fabric to expand their operations in the Kingdom.
The second memorandum of understanding, signed by Mezzour and the General Manager of the company Reciclados, Jordi Bonareu, focuses on an integrated investment project of the company Reciclados for the establishment of a new manufacturing unit of yarns, fabrics, and recycled clothing.
With an investment of MAD 695 million, this project will eventually create over 6,245 direct and indirect jobs.
On this occasion, Mezzour highlighted the importance of these two memorandums in initiating a turning point in upgrading the national textile sector and supporting it to adapt to the profound changes in the global textile ecosystem in terms of sustainable development.
“The aim is to speed up the transition to a responsible green and sustainable textile industry, increase competitiveness, and allow our national industrial actors to better position themselves in comparison with their competitors,” stressed Mezzour, further noting that this is an important step to enable Morocco to become a leading actor in tomorrow’s global textile industry.
For his part, Reille stressed that this partnership will enable Morocco to develop its textile industry sustainably, noting that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is “well equipped to help Morocco access the necessary capital and expertise to ensure the transition to low-carbon, zero-waste textile production that supports growth and jobs.”
In a similar context, El Ansari stressed the need to implement a circular production model in order to shift from a linear production system to a system that allows efficient use of resources, large-scale reuse and recycling of materials, and a reduction in overall waste.
“This is where the importance of this tripartite agreement lies. By joining the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Moroccan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industries (AMITH), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), we will be able to identify strategic projects for the textile and clothing sector, and subsequently strengthen our position in the global production chain,” added El Ansari.
In a similar context, Bonareu expressed his satisfaction with the signing of these memorandums of understanding, the fruit of several years of work, which will further promote the Moroccan textile and clothing sector, affirming his company’s commitment to supporting the transformation of the industry.
Through its investment project, the company Reciclados aims to position itself as a national leader in the manufacture of recycled yarns, fabrics, and clothing, for the European, American, and Moroccan markets.