Rabat — Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour recently said that over 86,000 street vendors have joined the country’s formal economy, a significant progress in the implementation of the national program aimed at regulating informal commerce.
Speaking at the House of Representatives, Mezzour revealed that these vendors make up approximately 70% of the 124,000 identified nationwide.
The commerce sector ranks as Morocco’s second-largest employer, engaging 1.6 million people — 15.6% of the active population — and generating MAD 151 billion ($15 billion) in annual value.
While operating outside formal channels, street vending plays a vital role in Moroccan society. This sector meets local needs and provides livelihoods, especially in working-class neighborhoods.
Despite its economic importance, economists assert that the growth of informal commerce…
