Prime Highlight:
- Morocco secured second place in Africa and the Arab worldin the World Bank’s latest Business Ready report, reflecting strong progress in supporting businesses.
- The country outperformed the global average and showed improvements in areas like starting a business, international trade, and financial services.
Key Facts:
- Morocco scored 44 out of 100, up from 62.41 in the previous report, surpassing the global average of 60.11.
- The report reviewed 101 economies, with Morocco excelling in public utilities, business formalization, and regulatory reforms.
Background:
Morocco has ranked second in Africa and the Arab world in the latest Business Ready report released by the World Bank Group, underlining the country’s steady progress in building a more supportive environment for businesses.
The country scored 63.44 points out of 100, up from 62.41 in the first edition of the report. This puts Morocco above the global average score of 60.11 and well ahead of the African and Arab world averages. South Korea topped the global ranking.
The report reviewed 101 economies, more than double the number included in the previous edition. Around 60% of the economies studied have higher income levels than Morocco, making its strong position more notable.
Morocco performed best in public utility services, international trade, starting a business, business formalization, and financial services. These areas showed clear improvement because the government kept reforming rules and worked to make it easier to start and run a business.
The country also improved its regulatory system and public services. These improvements show how the government’s 2023–2026 plan supports private sector growth and attracts investment.
However, the report pointed out some challenges. Operational efficiency fell slightly, mainly due to changes in the survey method and data used. Labor market reforms, business dispute resolution, and daily business operations still need improvement.
The World Bank stressed the need for strong cooperation between the government and the private sector. It said better digital services, open data sharing and faster public procedures could help Morocco climb higher in future rankings.
Overall, the report shows Morocco is moving in the right direction and is becoming a more trusted place to start, run and grow a business.
