In an indicator reflecting growing economic vitality in the region, the latest data from the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property revealed that the Eastern Region created 872 new businesses in the first two months of 2026. This takes place within a national context where approximately 17,000 new businesses were established across Morocco, placing the region’s contribution at around 5% of the national total — a figure that raises serious questions about ways to strengthen the region’s presence on the national economic map.
Nador Leads by a Clear Margin
Nador Province topped the list of provinces attracting the most new businesses in the Eastern Region, registering 397 new businesses in the first two months of 2026 alone — representing nearly 45% of the region’s total. These figures confirm Nador’s rise as a growing economic hub, bringing the lion’s share of investment and entrepreneurial activity in the area. Oujda came second with 247 businesses, while Berkane and Guercif also recorded notable investment activity, reflecting a geographic distribution of economic activity within the region.
Commerce Leads, Technology Trails
By sector, commerce maintained its leading position among the most popular activities for entrepreneurs at 42.80%, reflecting the historically trade-based nature of the region’s economic fabric. Construction and real estate came second at roughly 19%, while various services accounted for 14.11% of new businesses. By contrast, information and communication technology remained at the bottom of the list with a meager 2.35% — a figure that warrants serious reflection in an era of rapidly accelerating digitalization.
Moroccan Entrepreneurs Prefer the Single-Partner Company
The data also revealed that the Single-Partner Limited Liability Company (SARL-AU) remained the preferred structure for the majority of entrepreneurs at 63.7%, reflecting a tendency among founders to favor management flexibility and avoid the complexities of partnership at the start of their entrepreneurial journey.
2025 Figures Confirm Nador’s Economic Momentum
For broader context, the Eastern Region established 5,165 businesses during the first ten months of 2025, including 2,105 legal entities and 3,060 sole proprietorships. Nador Province again led the ranking with 2,472 businesses, followed by Oujda-Angad with 1,424, then Berkane with 660. Other provinces recorded varying figures: Guercif 243, Taourirt 145, Driouch 144, Figuig 76, while Jerada registered just a single business — a number that gives pause and raises questions about the state of development in that province.
Toward a More Diverse, Higher-Value Economy
Overall, these indicators are encouraging, yet they also raise questions about the need to diversify investment toward sectors with real added value — such as technology, agriculture, and manufacturing — away from excessive concentration in commerce and real estate. Keeping pace with the major projects underway in the region and leveraging the Eastern Region’s strategic geographic position will require a more diverse entrepreneurial fabric, more deeply rooted in the knowledge economy and sustainable development.
