The Moroccan Association of Textile and Clothing (AMITH) is an important player in the Moroccan economy with more than 850 members has entered into a performance agreement as per the terms the textile industry to increase exports to 464 million and is also committed to create 90,000 jobs by 2020. The agreement was signed at the end of February.

The agreement was signed in the framework of the 2014 -2020 industrial Acceleration Plan, launched in April 2014. A total of 57 projects led by industry-leading companies were identified and the sector has also pledged to increase exports.

In return, to help fulfill its objectives, the State agrees to rent to the 95 hectares sector operators at preferential prices and provide subsidy – without specifying what amount – through the Industrial Development Fund will be endowed with € 1.8 billion.

This performance contract was signed a few days before the recent skirmish between AMITH and the High Commission for Planning (HCP), around the figures of employment in textiles. About 37,000 jobs lost by the industry in 2014, 32,000 jobs are the fact of a textile according to the HCP. Information is quickly contradicted by AMITH ensuring that the sector is doing well.

After a growth of 8% per annum during the 90s, the Moroccan textile and clothing is in decline since the early 2000s, partly because of the tough competition from China.