Public procurement includes all public purchases made by public authorities from economic operators, acquired under investment contracts, in return for payment, for a fixed period and for the purpose of performing works and acquiring supplies or services. These contracts inject about MAD 194 billion every year into the national economy, corresponding to the investment budgets of the state, local authorities, companies and public institutions, which represents 17, 4% per cent of GDP, for the year 2018.
This is therefore a significant component of Morocco's economic activity. Several sectors of the economy depend largely on direct or indirect procurements from public entities, such as: building and public works and engineering.
In view of their importance, public authorities pay special attention to the legal and institutional framework governing it, with a view to embedding the principles of transparency, efficiency and fair competition. Similarly, the far-reaching changes that the national and international environment has undergone in recent years have required a genuine adaptation of the legal and technical framework governing public procurement to the changes affecting the business world and commitments made by our country under international agreements.
Furthermore, the modernisation projects initiated by the government in order to enshrine the principles of good governance in the management of public affairs have led to a comprehensive overhaul of the procurement rules, and the control and management of public procurement in logic of clarification and simplification of procedures.
In this regards, many reform projects have been adopted, including in particular:
- The adoption of law no. 86-12 pertaining to public-private partnership contracts in 2014;
- The adoption of a new Decree on public procurement in 2013;
- The adoption of Decree no. 2-16-344 of 22 July 2016 setting payment deadlines and default interest on public procurement;
- Establishment of the National Commission for Public Procurement (CNCP).
