Rabat: The year 2025 will be a record year in terms of the signing of new contracts between Morocco and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), amounting to around one billion US dollars, said the Bank’s First Vice-President, Greg Guyett. “This positive momentum stems from the close partnership established with the Moroccan government, as well as with private-sector clients, both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with which we work in Morocco,” Guyett explained in an interview with MAP.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Guyett recalled that the EBRD’s main objective in the Kingdom is to invest in the private sector to support the growth of private enterprises. Within this framework, several programs are being implemented in collaboration with partner banks to support SMEs and create conditions enabling them to more easily access supply chains and markets, Guyett noted. He added that education programs are also being rolled out, particularly for young people and women, with a view to developing their skills.
On this occasion, the official specified that his institution’s action in Morocco is structured around three main objectives: strengthening the private sector and supporting its development; developing the energy and industrial systems of the future to make them less costly, more resilient, and cleaner; and promoting rural development. As for future projects, Guyett indicated that the top priority concerns water and water resilience, an area in which the EBRD works in close cooperation with the government and the private sector.
Energy represents another strategic pillar, particularly renewable energy and the improvement of the electricity grid, he stressed. In this regard, Guyett reported very productive discussions on interconnection between Morocco and other countries, given the development of national electricity generation capacities. According to him, SMEs benefit from several programs launched by the EBRD in partnership with banks, notably Women in Business and Youth in Business.