Madam Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Chair of the ODCO Board, reaffirms the government’s commitment to developing cooperatives

During the ODCO Board meeting, Madam Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, reiterated the government’s determination to make the social and solidarity economy a cornerstone of the national economy. With over 60,000 cooperatives in 2023, the sector is experiencing significant growth.

Highlighting the impressive expansion of the cooperative sector, with 60,000 cooperatives in 2023, including 7,730 exclusively female-led, the Minister emphasized the positive impact of major programs such as the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) and those led by the Ministry and the ODCO, which provide financial and technical support to cooperatives. In 2023, nearly 5,000 new cooperatives were created, with a significant increase in female participation, now representing 32% of members.

“The cooperative model continues to prove its potential for job creation, particularly for young people and women. The government’s vision for the Social and Solidarity Economy is ambitious: we aim for an 8% contribution to GDP and the creation of 50,000 jobs per year by 2035. The framework law in preparation will help us achieve these objectives,” said Ms. Fatim-Zahra Ammor.

For her part, Madam Aicha Errifaai, General Director of the ODCO, presented the Office’s performance report for the first half of 2024 and the outlook for the remainder of the year. She highlighted, in particular, an organizational restructuring aimed at aligning the Office with the ambitious vision for the sector, as well as the deployment of a more inclusive action plan meeting the specific needs of local cooperatives.

The Minister also mentioned that 2025 would be proclaimed the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations Committee for the Promotion of Cooperatives (COPAC), and encouraged all stakeholders in the sector to actively participate in this initiative.