Mastercard confidence index: 87% of Moroccan SMEs confident

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco are optimistic about the future: 87% say they are confident about their business prospects for the next 12 months.

A Mastercard study shows that Moroccan SMEs display a strong sense of confidence, supported by a growing domestic market and increased focus on strengthening their commercial capabilities.

The Mastercard SME Confidence Index is a multi-market study that reports on the mood, priorities and growth outlook of SMEs in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.The role that digital tools — especially payment and security solutions — can play in driving business expansion and improving efficiency in Morocco is increasingly being recognized.

Seventy-eight percent of companies surveyed acknowledge that adopting digital and online payments is essential to help them grow better and faster, both now and in the future.

“Businesses in the region continue to demonstrate adaptability and ambition. In the face of change, the growing importance they place on digital capabilities and access to financial services opens up new prospects for sustainable growth, enabling them to be more competitive in an increasingly connected and dynamic market,” said Gabriel Swanepoel, president of Mastercard’s Africa division.

This optimism is also reflected in how Moroccan SMEs view the future.Nearly half (49%) say maintaining and developing their business is their top priority, while 47% have already taken steps to enter new markets, indicating a shift toward more proactive, growth-focused strategies.

“Moroccan SMEs show a clear willingness to evolve and expand. The importance they place on digital payments, security and developing their staff’s skills reflects a strong desire to engage more deeply in the digital economy.

As businesses seek to grow, this willingness to build capacity and adopt the right tools will be essential to seize new opportunities and strengthen long-term resilience,” said Mohamed Benomar, national director for Northwest Africa.

Optimism amid a changing context

Moroccan SMEs continue to adapt to a shifting economic environment while maintaining a positive outlook. Although 79% of SMEs cited inflation as their main challenge, confidence remains strong, with 66% describing the current economic situation as good.

The main positive factors for business performance cited by SMEs are growth of the domestic market (33%) and political stability (32%).

As Moroccan SMEs seek to modernize operations that are currently dominated by traditional physical points of sale (73%), a growing trend toward digital transition is taking shape.

Businesses see the greatest growth potential in ensuring secure payment processing (62%), followed by providing simple and user-friendly payment methods (60%), reflecting a clear desire to improve both efficiency and customer experience.

To realize their growth ambitions, Moroccan SMEs increasingly seek professional development solutions and strategic support.
The main needs identified by respondents include training, management or upskilling of their teams (65%) and access to a network of mentors or strategic guidance (62%).

Supporting SMEs through partnerships

Through strategic collaborations with local fintech leaders, Mastercard is actively working to provide SMEs with the tools and resources they need to realize their ambitions.

It has also partnered with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy and with Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) to support the digital transformation of the Kingdom’s artisan sector.

This initiative aims to help artisans and craft businesses adopt digital tools, access training and support programs, and scale the use of digital payment solutions so they can participate more fully in the digital economy.

The program could benefit roughly 2.3 million artisans across Morocco.

Mastercard has partnered with VPS, one of Morocco’s leading payment and financial service providers, to accelerate payment innovation and strengthen financial inclusion across the Kingdom.

This partnership gives SMEs access to a wide range of Mastercard digital payment solutions, including secure e-commerce gateways and innovative technologies such as the “Tap on Phone” solution, which enables SMEs to accept contactless payments easily and at low cost using just their smartphone.

As SMEs throughout Morocco continue to build confidence, the Mastercard SME Confidence Index highlights both their resilience and their readiness to seize new opportunities.

By combining digital innovation, partnerships and capacity building, Mastercard remains committed to supporting SMEs in their development and contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic digital economy.

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