Competition Council: A first assessment for 2025
«It is true that people still have difficulty filing complaints, pointing the finger at each other as violating competition rules, because they know each other and move in the same circles …» , according to Ahmed Rahhou, president of the Competition Council
«2025 is a pivotal year”, says Competition Council President Ahmed Rahhou. It was a year that saw a “ramp-up” in the processing of economic concentrations: 290 cases compared to 200 in 2024. “Nonetheless, we expected a reduction in transactions (takeovers, asset sales, joint ventures, etc.) given that the regulations have raised the turnover threshold for mandatory reporting of economic concentrations”, explains the competition authority.
This is proof of dynamic economic activity and is quite impressive, commented the presidency at the 5th annual meeting with the media held on February 03, 2026, in Rabat.
In practical terms, all economic concentration projects have been given the green light, with the exception of a few rare cases. And where the Council’s approval was subject to restrictive conditions, as was the case in a transaction in the insurance sector. The economic profile of the operators concerned is both private and public, national and international. Even the State as a shareholder has filed applications. “This allows me to emphasize one principle: the state is subject to competition law when it acts as a commercial player,” the Council president said.
Ahmed Rahhou also insisted on “vigilance” with regard to response times of “a few weeks” . Operators are entitled to a fast-track procedure in 50% of the cases processed. «This is a first in the Moroccan administration. It is an innovation in the permit issuance process. It could inspire administrative practice» , says the institution, which was reactivated in August 2008.
In addition to monitoring the compliance of economic concentrations with competition law, the Council has another mission: to issue opinions on sectors of economic activity. As a result, the Council has gone from two or three opinions per year to six in 2025, and eight more are already scheduled for publication in 2026. The latest opinions made public concern cement and concrete reinforcing bars. Others will follow on construction materials. Opinions on wood, aluminum, and ceramics, more specifically, are currently being finalized.
Ahmed Rahhou shed light on the reasons behind the study of a particular activity: “They focus on sectors that have a strong impact on the economy and household purchasing power, such as health, education, housing, and food.” The opinions serve to map a given sector at a given moment in time and can be used by investigators in the future to identify a market suspected of anti-competitive practices.
Faisal Faquihi
