Tangier – A total of 26 candidates, including 18 women, from all regions of the Kingdom, were awarded Friday in Tangier, as part of the 10th edition of the National Micro-Entrepreneur Award.
Organized by the Mohammed VI Support Centre for Solidarity Microfinance (CMS) and the National Federation of Microcredit Associations (FNAM), this socio-economic event aims to honour exemplary Moroccan micro-entrepreneurs by celebrating the originality and success of their micro-projects.
Placed under the theme “Territories, talents, successes”, this edition highlights the role of local entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable economic development, creating value and improving the living conditions of entrepreneurs and their environment.
The awards for this 12th edition are divided into eight categories: the CMS Special Prize, the Young Micro-Enterprise, Responsible Tourism, the Innovative Micro-Enterprise, the Green Economy, Human Development, the Women’s Micro-Enterprise and the Very Small Enterprise, reflecting the diversity of entrepreneurial initiatives and sectors of activity represented.
Distinguished projects include the creation of high value-added activities, the formalisation of enterprises, the capacity for innovation, the contribution to environmental protection and the enhancement of local heritage, illustrating the diversity of entrepreneurial initiatives and the potential of Kingdom territories.
In an address on this occasion, CMS Board Chair Naziha Belkeziz stressed that this annual event is an opportunity to highlight women and men who have transformed their skills and ambitions into productive projects, creating value and jobs in their communities.
In this regard, Ms Belkeziz highlighted the role of solidarity microfinance in increasing access to finance for those project holders excluded from traditional channels, stressing that financial inclusion is an essential lever for economic and social integration.
She also stressed the need to support micro-entrepreneurs beyond financing, through capacity building, improved business management, market access and ownership of digital tools, in order to promote the sustainability and development of their businesses.
Since its launch in 2012, the National Micro-Entrepreneur Award has awarded 320 project promoters, for a cumulative amount of Dirham 5,115 million, she recalled, noting that this year’s edition distinguishes 26 entrepreneurs in eight categories.
The strong representation of women among the award-winning candidates, which is close to 70%, reflects the growing role of Moroccan women in creating wealth and energizing the local economy, while illustrating the opportunities offered by solidarity microfinance in terms of economic empowerment, she added.
For her part, CMS Executive Director Amina Sikoudi stressed that the award, launched in 2012, is based on the desire to make entrepreneurial successes visible, including those from projects initiated with limited means.
Over the course of the editions, this ambition has evolved into a national approach, she noted, noting that the representation of women in this edition illustrates their growing ability to seize opportunities and create their own economic prospects.
For his part, the managing director of the FNAM, Mohamed El Mazouri, indicated that the ceremony was the outcome of a multi-month selection process, from the receipt of applications to the evaluation of projects, the establishment of a short list and field visits by the members of the jury and CMS teams.
This process is based on several stages of review and evaluation designed to assess candidate projects according to defined criteria and to ensure the smooth running of selection operations, he said.
On the sidelines of this ceremony, CMS organizes a solidarity meeting dedicated to micro-entrepreneurs in Rabat from 21 October to 21 November 2026. An exhibition space at Msallah Square allows the general public to discover and acquire a variety of products offered by participating entrepreneurs.
In addition to recognizing their achievements and supporting the commercialization of their products, this year the recipients of the Award benefit from training focused on digital marketing and personal development aimed at strengthening their skills and improving their development prospects.
Through this initiative, CMS and FNAM aim to consolidate the role of microfinance in promoting community entrepreneurship, strengthening financial inclusion and creating sustainable economic opportunities in the different regions of the Kingdom.
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