In Morocco, three out of five small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) see market saturation as the biggest barrier to their growth. Additionally, 47% of SMEs report limited access to financing for international expansion, while over half face «significant logistical and structural challenges» when trying to integrate into global value chains. These findings come from a European Investment Bank (EIB) survey titled Overview of SMEs in Morocco by 2025, released on World SME Day. The survey, conducted under the Trade & Competitiveness Programme co-financed by the EU, highlights «the urgent need to refocus on competitiveness as a strategic priority». The study surveyed 150 SME leaders operating in key export sectors—automotive, agri-food, and textiles. According to an EIB press release, these business leaders identified two main obstacles to growth and export capacity: «first, the need for financing to support internationalization strategies; and second, the pressure of rising competition and saturated markets, which limit their prospects abroad». Competition was cited by 28% of respondents as the top challenge, followed by access to financing (17%) and limited capital (11%). Regarding exporting specifically, 3 out of 5 SMEs see competition and market saturation as their biggest hurdles. To address these issues, the Trade and Competitiveness Programme (TCP) supports Moroccan companies by providing technical assistance and training to strengthen their capabilities in European and international markets. While 73% of surveyed SMEs currently export, only 33% do so regularly. Meanwhile, one in five SMEs remain absent from international markets, mainly due to insufficient financial capacity. To help, the TCP offers tailored financing solutions for SMEs. Beyond financing and competitiveness, Moroccan SMEs face other export challenges: more than 55% point to high logistics costs, complex customs procedures, and regulatory compliance as major obstacles, while 50% struggle to identify reliable foreign business partners.
