The successful industrial strategy set up by King Mohammed VI has pioneered the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as highlighted by the Moroccan news agency maghreb-intelligence.
When King Mohammed launched the country’s new strategy in April 2014, many observers thought of a simple advertising. The industrial acceleration Plan devised by the Moulay Hafid Elalamy team (in reference to the wealthy businessman and minister of Industry, commerce and green and digital economy) was a bold initiative.
In his attempt to streamline the Moroccan industry around 54 ecosystems, in partnership with 32 professional associations and universities, Moulay Hafid Elalamy disrupted many “bad habits” and mainly bound certain sectors to modernization. After that, the industrial acceleration Plan should be assessed in 2020.
Nevertheless, Moulay Hafid Elalamy did not need either to issue a documented statement or to hold a press conference for such assessment.
As the Moroccan industry has to deploy itself to combat the pandemic coronavirus, it shortly met the domestic demand for masks and respiratory assistance devices. The plastic bag industry eventually took up the challenge after it failed to start its activities due to the ban on manufacturing and marketing plastic bags.
Morocco is one of the only Mediterranean countries that have the capacity of producing up to six million masks which meet the current European Union standards in this area.
Other ecosystems set up for the Industrial Acceleration Plan achieved another breakthrough. These ecosystems are particularly the clusters of the aeronautical and electronic industries which partnered with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, the National Post and Telecommunications Institute, and the Moroccan Center for Science, Innovation and Research, to design and manufacture Moroccan respiratory assistance devices, initially intended for hospitals taking care of Covid-19 patients.
As for hydroalcoholic solutions, a Kenitra-based ethanol company that ceased production since 2018, has resumed its activities within a week to supply the Moroccan market. Antiseptic gels are now available in all shops at affordable prices.
CGD/Dng/APA