omestic trade, a frequent subject of official reports and strategies, was the focus of direct and sometimes heated discussions during the study day at Maamora, near the city of Salé. 
On September 29, the Ministry of Industry and Trade invited traders, federations, professional associations, and private operators to reflect on the future of a sector that weighs heavily on the national economy but whose structuring remains incomplete.
Under the theme « Together for a Moroccan Trade 2030 «, the meeting aimed to flesh out a strategy presented several months ago and which, in order to move forward, must now overcome very real resistance. The discussions were frank. On the one hand, the State reiterated the efforts undertaken: 300,000 traders are now registered in the unified professional contribution scheme, a system that combines social protection and tax simplification. On the other hand, some players in the field are still struggling to take the plunge. The Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, acknowledged this bluntly: « The trade sector is at the heart of our country’s structural transformations, but the lack of enthusiasm among some traders to pay their social security contributions is delaying one of the Government’s highest priority projects».
This observation highlights a recurring difficulty. Many small retailers, often economically fragile, are still hesitant to commit to a system that requires regularity and formalization. The Government and the unions are trying to encourage the more reserved by highlighting all the advantages: social security coverage, easier access to credit, simplified and more predictable taxation, and better access to purchasing centers. But mistrust remains strong.
The national trade strategy, detailed by the Ministry, sets out four main areas of focus. It targets financial inclusion, digital integration, wholesale market reform, and improved supply. Quantified targets accompany this roadmap. The program plans to connect 35,000 points of sale to modernized supply chains, process 5,000 deliveries per day, and upgrade 12 wholesale markets and 12 slaughterhouses. The initial results are tangible but still partial.
The Moroccan Retail Tech Builder program has already supported 161 startups, and is targeting 300 new start-ups by 2027. More than 35,000 retailers benefit from supply offers via large stores, a significant development for businesses that have long relied on informal channels.
A.Bo