Morocco: Improving the international competitiveness of the textile and clothing sector (GTEX/MENATEX)

    Overview

    Summary

    The envisaged impact of the programme is to increase employment and income along the T&C value chain in the five selected priority countries. To achieve this long-term objective, the programme foresees to accomplish two major outcomes until the end of the programme. One is related to the institutional infrastructure around the sector in the priority countries, including policy aspects, where required and is formulated as “Improved business environment and TISI performance in the T&C sector”. The second outcome targets the enterprise level as is formulated as “Improved competitiveness of SMEs in the T&C sector”.

    Recipients

    Partners

    Sustainable Development Goals

    This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    Context

    Supporting job creation in Morocco 

    ITC is working through its Global Textiles and Clothing (GTEX/MENATEX) project in Morocco to create jobs and increase the income of small and medium businesses in the textile and clothing industry. To that end, ITC is working with the government on policies to improve the sector’s business environment and improve the sector’s competitiveness.  

    Strengthening the sector and boosting exports will have an enormous impact as the industry employs up to an estimated 220,000 people, the majority of them women.  

    Our work centres on boosting the skills and capacity of 35 small and medium-sized privately-owned clothing enterprises in fast fashion, denim and knitwear, three of which are women-owned or managed. We also provide technical assistance to enterprises in select sub-sectors and support Morocco’s “fast fashion eco responsible”. 

    The GTEX/MENATEX Project is co-financed by the governments of Switzerland, Sweden and Morocco. 

    Pivoting online to survive COVID-19 

    The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the sector hard, leading to lower and delayed salaries, reduced capacity, higher costs, cash flow problems and an overall decrease in the competitiveness of Morocco’s clothing and textile sector. 

    To support the Moroccan textile and clothing industry, we adjusted our approach to focus on digitalizing operations. This helped companies improve their digital processes and online sales, making them more competitive, including in the local market.  

    ITC also provided an impact study on the COVID-19 crisis, giving stakeholders updated information on the pandemic’s effect on the sector, including employment rates, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected, the loss of buyers, and new opportunities in unconventional markets and products. 

    Thanks to GTEX/MENATEX of ITC, the school is able to provide an intranet supporting exchange between students and teachers. In addition, ITC developed a new training on Design Stylism de mode and supported the school operations and strategy to offer versatility which is what fashion is.
    Thanks to GTEX/MENATEX of ITC, the school is able to provide an intranet supporting exchange between students and teachers. In addition, ITC developed a new training on Design Stylism de mode and supported the school operations and strategy to offer versatility which is what fashion is.
    Wafaâ Khamlichi
    Director - Casa Moda Academy
    ITC has been a long-term partner of the Moroccan government. We have created a strategy to develop the textile industry, and the ITC’s GTEX/MENATEX project comes to reinforce the ministry’s efforts to support the textile sector.
    ITC has been a long-term partner of the Moroccan government. We have created a strategy to develop the textile industry, and the ITC’s GTEX/MENATEX project comes to reinforce the ministry’s efforts to support the textile sector.
    Taha Ghazi
    Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy in Morocco
    Building leadership and management skills are essential to support women in overcoming the challenges faced nowadays. The GTEX/MENATEX project supports us by promoting training and coaching sessions focused on leadership and decision-making.
    Building leadership and management skills are essential to support women in overcoming the challenges faced nowadays. The GTEX/MENATEX project supports us by promoting training and coaching sessions focused on leadership and decision-making.
    Jamila lahwate
    Production Manager - Larimode
    We thank the GTEX/MENATEX project for providing insightful experiences and knowledge to our school. Attending the series of trainings on lean manufacturing, for example, helped seven of our experts to learn about the lean methodology, tools and benefits. Our partners are already preparing to replicate the theory in Casablanca, Tangier and Fez. 
    We thank the GTEX/MENATEX project for providing insightful experiences and knowledge to our school. Attending the series of trainings on lean manufacturing, for example, helped seven of our experts to learn about the lean methodology, tools and benefits. Our partners are already preparing to replicate the theory in Casablanca, Tangier and Fez. 
    Taoudi Bensouda
    Director of Corporate Relations - School of Textile and Clothing industries
    The textiles and clothing sector accounts for 25% of all Moroccan exports and employs some 200,000 people, the great majority of them women.
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    Resources

    ITC contact

    Mehdi
    Chaker
    Email
    chaker [at] intracen.org