Morocco's Finance Inspectorate probes large firms over small‑contract procurement

The General Inspectorate of Finance in Morocco has launched a wide‑ranging audit into allegations that major companies are securing public contracts that are reserved for small and medium‑size contractors. The probe, triggered by complaints from disadvantaged firms and notifications from spending officers, is examining whether large firms have falsified eligibility documents—such as transaction volume and permanent staff numbers—to meet the legal threshold of no more than 200 employees. Investigators have reviewed around 18 public entities and their subsidiaries, and have identified cases where small firms were excluded because they could not complete required paperwork within very short deadlines, sometimes as brief as 48 hours after a provisional award. Complaints say the recent increase in the contract ceiling from 200,000 to 500,000 dirhams has enabled financially stronger firms to compete for low‑value projects, limiting opportunities for emerging contractors to gain experience and future larger contracts.