Objective: To climb the podium of wealth-generating regions
Repositioned within the framework of a new geographical centrality connecting the North and South of Morocco, in accordance with the Royal Discourse delivered on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Green March, the Agadir Souss Massa Region, whose economic vocation has traditionally been focused on exports to Sub-Saharan countries, aims to capitalize on this achievement by approaching the coming decades with a triple economic vocation characterized by a central, African, and Atlantic positioning. This ambition is rooted in the current Will of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, who, following the Discourse on the 48th anniversary of the Green March, reaffirmed his geostrategic vision for the Atlantic, making this maritime space an economic backbone and a powerful driver of economic integration with Morocco’s African connection.
The regional GDP reached 79 billion MAD in 2021, compared to 71 billion MAD in 2020
Maintaining a nearly constant position as the 6th region in terms of wealth creation at the national level, the region contributed 6.2% to the national GDP in 2021. In this regard, the economic activity of the Agadir Souss- Massa region, which continues to generate its GDP through a combination of Agriculture, Tourism, and Fishing, recorded a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 79 billion MAD in 2021, up from 71 billion MAD in 2020, representing an increase of 8 billion MAD. Overall, the national GDP amounted to 1,244 billion MAD in volume, with an 8% growth rate after a significant recession of 7.2% in 2020, primarily driven by the health crisis and its repercussions. Simultaneously, the region demonstrated a growth rate close to the national average (8%), as its contribution was around 7.5% in terms of the growth rate in the creation of the national GDP.
It is worth noting that the region achieved a growth rate of 5.7%, placing it among the four regions with the most dynamic trajectories at the national level compared to the national average of 5.5% during the period from 2001 to 2018.
Increasing the regional GDP to move from
the 6th to the 4th position in terms of national
economic significance
In this context, Agadir Souss Massa is well-positioned to capitalize on three new dynamics related to its central, African, and Atlantic positioning to achieve economic takeoff. This will primarily involve improving connectivity, logistics, and, most importantly, infrastructure development to give a boost to its GDP and climb two positions higher on the national wealth podium. The region aims to transition from the 6th to the 4th position in terms of economic significance, in alignment with the Regional Development Plan (SRAT), whose guidelines extend to 2046. This ambitious goal, supported by the numerous growth opportunities identified by the SRAT, particularly in the African context, is set to achieve the objective of generating a GDP of around 661 billion MAD within the next 25 years, as opposed to the 79.3 billion MAD recorded in 2021, according to regional accounts published by the HCP in September 2023.
In the medium term, the initial step to realize this ambition is the implementation of the Regional Development Program (PDR) for the Souss Massa Region, outlining development actions for the upcoming six years (2022-2027) and allocated with a budget of approximately 37.7 billion MAD to translate the guidelines of the SRAT into concrete actions.
The food industry unleashes its potential under
the drive of the Industrial Acceleration Plan
Today, although the Souss Massa Region contributes only 3 to 5% to national industrial indicators, the regional implementation of the PAI, based on eight industrial ecosystems, has allowed for the full potential of the agri-food sector to be unleashed.
Out of more than 1.078 million jobs generated in the year 2022, the Souss Massa Region created 55,285 positions, of which 79% are in the agri-food industry, compared to a national ratio of 19%. It is a sector on which the region capitalizes to create more industrial added value and, consequently, better leverage its triple positioning as central, African, and Atlantic within the Agadir Souss Massa territory. This is achieved through the enhancement of its Industrial Acceleration Zone (ZAI), the implementation of its dry port, and the repositioning of the Agadir port enclosure, which must align with this new development logic.
” The manufacturing industry sector recorded an increase from 14.5% in 2020 to 16.6% of the GDP at the regional level in 2021.“
A regional economic structure transitioning towards a more significant industrial contribution to GDP
Maintaining a steady position as the 6th wealthcreating region at the national level, the Agadir Souss Massa Region accounts for 6.2% of the national GDP.
The economy of the region has historically been dominated by the primary sector, which includes activities related to the exploitation of raw materials without transformation, such as agriculture, maritime fishing, and fisheries products, as well as extractive activities. Between 2020 and 2021, this sector has maintained a steady share of around 18.4% of the regional GDP, rather than decreasing in favor of a more needed processing and valorization industry that aligns with the territorial vision.
However, the transformation industry sector did experience growth, moving from 14.5% in 2020 to 16.6% of the regional GDP in 2021.
Activities within the service sector, such as tourism, commerce, transportation, banking, and real estate, currently constitute half of the economic structure of Agadir Souss-Massa’s regional GDP, making up 55.6% of this economic aggregate in 2021, a slight decrease from 57.3% in 2020, yet still above the national average of 51.9%.