Small and medium-sized enterprises in Morocco are heading into the coming year with notable optimism, as 87% report confidence in their business outlook, according to the newest edition of Mastercard’s SME Confidence Index.
The survey, conducted across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to gauge how smaller firms view their priorities and prospects for growth, found that Moroccan companies are drawing reassurance from an expanding home market while channeling more resources into digital tools to fuel their next phase of growth.
Among the firms surveyed, 78% regard the rollout of digital and online payment options as vital to operating faster and more efficiently.
Gabriel Swanepoel, Mastercard’s Division President for Africa, said entrepreneurs across the region continue to show resilience and ambition in the face of shifting conditions. He noted that their sharpening focus on digital tools and improved access to finance is creating fresh routes to durable growth and helping them compete in a more interconnected economy.
Growth itself remains front of mind. Close to half of Moroccan SMEs, 49%, named sustaining and building their operations as their chief goal for the year ahead, and 47% are already chasing entry into new markets.
Mohamed Benomar, Mastercard’s Country Manager for Northwest Africa, said the country’s businesses are leaning into digital transformation with clear purpose. Their growing attention to digital payments, security, and staff development, he said, signals a readiness to take a fuller role in the digital economy, and that investing in the right capabilities will prove decisive as they look to scale and build lasting resilience.
The mood holds firm despite economic headwinds. While 79% of respondents flagged inflation as their foremost concern, 66% still judged current conditions to be favorable. Asked what most supports their performance, 33% credited the country’s growing domestic market and 32% pointed to political stability.
The findings also point to an acceleration in digital adoption. Even though 73% of SMEs still run their operations chiefly through brick-and-mortar locations, a growing share are putting money into payment technology that is both secure and easy to use.
