Key Points
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In 2024, more than340,000 public procurement contractswere awarded, totaling over220 billion dirhams.
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The newpublic procurement decree, effective from September 2023, aimed to establish fair competition and the total digitalization of the process.
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Nevertheless, a handful of companies continue to capture the majority of construction contracts, particularly in the building and infrastructure sectors.
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Opaquesubcontracting, late payments, and “targeted” tenders remain significant barriers to real competition.
I. A Burdensome System, but Vital for the Economy
Public procurement accounts for between17 and 20% of Morocco's GDP. Every dirham invested by the state supports hundreds of businesses, from consulting firms to regional SMEs. In a context of economic recovery and structural investments (ports, roads, energy, water, hospitals), public procurement acts as a central driver of growth and job creation.
However, behind the impressive numbers lies a reality: the concentration of contract awards. According to the data reviewed,10 to 12 large groupssecure nearly60% of the amountsawarded in infrastructure contracts, a pattern that has remained almost unchanged for the past decade.
II. The 2023 Reform: Ambition and Limitations
Thedecree No. 2.22.431on public procurement, which came into effect onSeptember 1, 2023, introduced several innovations:
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Mandatory use of thenational public procurement platform ;
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Environmental and social assessment of projects;
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Weighted attribution based ontechnical valuerather than just price;
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Regulation ofpayment advancesand payment deadlines.
Despite these advances, the stakeholders interviewed indicated a problem with implementation: the regulations are applied unevenly across administrations, and some calls for tenders continue to be “drafted for a specific profile.”
III. Concentration and Favoritism: The Other Face of Public Procurement
Companies close to economic power or with institutional connections are often better positioned to anticipate tenders. Access to information beforehand, complex administrative requirements, and heavy guarantees effectively eliminate many SMEs.
Subcontracting: A Blind Spot in Oversight
Many construction projects are actually executed by a chain of subcontractors that do not officially appear on the contracts. This allows major contractors to cut costs, but creates a perverse effect: the real local added valuedilutes, and working conditions sometimes escape the oversight of project owners.
IV. Digital Transparency: Real Progress, Persistent Dark Zones
Thenational public procurement platform (www.marchespublics.gov.ma)has constituted a revolution in data access.
For the first time, citizens, journalists, and businesses can track notices, awardees, and amounts.
However, this transparency often stops at thepublication of results. The execution reports, amendments, penalties, and subsequent controls remain difficult to access.
An analysis of the available data also shows a recurring pattern of awards going to the same companies for contracts on potable water, rural roads, and hospital construction.
V. When Administrative Delays Are Costly
Payment delays constitute another significant issue. Many SMEs waitover 6 to 8 monthsto get paid, which heavily weighs on their cash flow.
The promised widespread implementation of electronic payment in the reform is only partially operational.
In some cases, these delays lead subcontractors tosell their receivablesto intermediaries, creating a parallel market for public procurement financing.
VI. Towards a ‘Smart’ Public Procurement System?
Experts call for the establishment of apublic rating system for service providers(quality, deadlines, social impact) and amandatory subcontractor registry.Some also propose experimenting with
blockchainfor tracing the validation steps and payments.However, without political will to genuinely open up data, these reforms may remain mere slogans.
Box — Key Figures
340,000 public procurement contracts awarded in 2024
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Estimated total amount: 220 billion dirhams
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60% of amounts awarded to 12 groups
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Average payment delay: 6 to 8 months
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Around 45% of SMEs report they no longer participate in public tenders due to a lack of trust in the process.
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FAQ
What is the objective of the 2023 reform?
To establish more transparency, fairness, and speed in Moroccan public procurement.
Why does favoritism persist?
Because administrative barriers, restrictive clauses, and unequal access to information continue to favor the same players.
What can digitalization change?
It facilitates citizen oversight, but remains incomplete without total openness of execution and subcontracting data.
Sources
Ministry of Economy and Finance — 2024 public procurement report.
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Decree No. 2.22.431 relating to public procurement, Official Bulletin of June 8, 2023.
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National public procurement portal (marchespublics.gov.ma).
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Court of Auditors — Annual Report 2024.
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CGEM — White paper on public procurement and SME access.
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HCP — Indicators of enterprise participation in public procurement.
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Articles from L’Économiste, Médias24, TelQuel, and Le Desk on the 2023 reform and market data for 2023-2025.
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