National
Pharmaceutical Industry
A pillar of the chemical and para-chemical industry, the Moroccan pharmaceutical sector boasts over 60 years of expertise, positioning the Kingdom as the 2nd largest drug producer in Africa and 5th in the MENA region.
With 54 industrial pharmaceutical establishments and an average annual production of 450 million boxes of medicine, the industry covers nearly 58% of the country’s needs while increasingly directing a growing share of its production toward exports.
Sectorial Strategy
As a major component of the Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAI), the pharmaceutical strategy lies on two pillars:
- Research & Development (R&D) aiming to motivate all R&D activities and improve exports to foreign markets;
- Development of domestic markets focusing on the improvement of medication accessibility and high-quality medical care.
The "Covid-19" health crisis has showcased Morocco's leadership, which has embraced an innovative approach in the "fill & finish" domain. Through partnerships with international laboratories, the country has committed to local vaccine production, aiming to ensure its health security and sovereignty while positioning itself as a significant biotechnological hub on the African continent.
Key Figures
2nd
largest producer in Africa-
5th
largest producer in the MENA region 
+50
pharmaceutical industrial establishments
+ 450 million
units produced/ year
80 000
jobs-
+MAD 23 billion
in exports in 2024
Assets
Pharmaceutical industry stands among the prominent sectors of regional industries offering the following assets:
87% of pharmaceutical enterprises are located in this region
-
Longstanding expertise with important anchorage in Africa
-
Soaring market with 4% annual growth
-
Freeing pharmaceutical enterprise corporate capitals from restrictions as provided for by the new medication and pharmacies law
-
2 industrial ecosystems integrated by the Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAI): medication manufacturing and medical equipment production
Investment Opportunities
● Manufacture of x-ray devices designed for sterilization
● Vaccine manufacturing
● Drugs Manufacturing (oncology, insulin, corticosteroid therapy, beta-lactams, etc.)
● Production of molecular diagnostic reagents
● Manufacture of medical electronic devices or equipment
● Materials & equipment Assembly
● Manufacturing of medicinal pouches and bottles
● Manufacture of dressing bandages
● Manufacturing of medical textiles
● Drug clinical trial centers
Regional Value Offer
-
Bank for industrial projects providing high-potentiality activities at regional level
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Diversified regional offer of industrial platforms
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Regional support to activities dedicated to research and development
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Customized close support by national and regional actors
-
Vocational training delivered by public and private institutes
-
MARBIO (Benslimane): Africa's largest industrial unit for vaccine manufacturing and syringe filling
For more information, download "The Cs of the Pharmaceutical Industry"
Incentives
-
1
Financial aids provided by the Investment Charter
-
2
Special support within the industrial project bank
-
3
Many advantages for companies operating within the framework of industrial acceleration zones
For more information, consult our study on medical and paramedical devices for further information on this industry
Key Enterprises
