Morocco’s Federation of Employers Elects Salah Eddine Mezouar new President

Former Finance and former Foreign Minister Salah Eddine Mezouar was elected new President of the Federation of Morocco’s employers (CGEM) succeeding Meriem Bensaleh.

Mezouar won by a landslide majority of 5,173 out of the 6635 casted votes after a heated electoral campaign in which he ran against Hakim Marrakchi.

In a statement to the press following his victory, Mezouar said he will make reinvigorating SMEs his top priority through finding better financing options and boosting their competitiveness while taking measures as part of a public-private partnership to curb imports.

He also said that the CGEM under his presidency will elaborate a pact for dialogue with the government and social partners.

Born in Meknes in 1953, Mezouar served in different senior positions in the public and private sectors notably head of the Moroccan textile producers association and president of the federation of textile and leather wing at the CGEM.

In 2004, he took his first governmental portfolio as Minister of Industry and Trade. Afterwards, in 2007 he served as Minister of Economy and Finance.

In 2010, he was elected head of liberal RNI party and in 2013 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the PJD-led government.