Business leaders and procurement experts met in Marrakech to discuss how artificial intelligence and global challenges are changing the way companies buy goods and services. The second Procurement Excellence Summit, organised by Morocco’s National Procurement Council (CNA Maroc), brought together executives from different industries to discuss supply chains, talent and new technology.
Procurement is becoming more important
Speakers said procurement is no longer just about buying products or negotiating lower prices. It now helps companies reduce risks, improve performance and make better business decisions.
Younes Ouahman, President of CNA Maroc, said the event focused on helping companies deal with today’s challenges.
“Today, given the importance of procurement in Morocco and the current challenges, especially geopolitical issues and health crises, which have a real impact on our supply chains, we are trying to find the right solutions for companies of every size.”
Saloua Essemrhouni, Deputy Procurement Director at Wafasalaf, said procurement has become a strategic function.
“It is no longer just an administrative procurement function that manages purchase orders or signs contracts. Today, it is at the heart of the company, helping generate savings, achieve quick wins and support decision making for business leaders.”
Morocco wants to build on its strengths
Speakers also said Morocco can strengthen its position by supporting local production and working more closely with international partners, especially France.
Nissrine Massaq, Group Procurement Director at Imerys, said procurement now supports innovation and business growth.
“This event confirms that procurement is no longer only about negotiating costs. It has become a strategic driver for innovation, sustainable development, industrial sovereignty and business competitiveness. It also helps strengthen economic cooperation between Morocco and France […] I am personally very proud to contribute to this momentum because Morocco has the talent, ambition and strategic position to become a leading African and international hub for procurement excellence.”
Abdelkarim Ait Brik, CEO of Air Arabia, said Morocco must continue investing in people.
“I think the keyword, and what matters most to me as an economic and industrial player in Morocco, is investing in human capital. Our biggest strength is our ability to develop skills, retain talent and attract investment through those skills and talents.”
Mohsine Berrada El Azizi, President of CGEM Marrakech Safi, said protecting local businesses is also important.
“Our role is to make members aware of anything that could affect the profitability of their businesses. That includes the purchase of raw materials, which is one of the main sources of profitability for any company.”
AI is changing procurement
Artificial intelligence was one of the main topics at the summit. Speakers said AI can save time by automating routine tasks and helping companies compare suppliers and prices more quickly.
Mohsine Berrada El Azizi said:
“An AI agent could provide much more information in a very short time. Procurement is not just about finding a supplier. You also need to compare prices, and that is something AI agents can certainly do.”
Abdelilah El Attari, CEO of SEMS | E-SOLUTION, said the next step is agentic AI, which can carry out many procurement tasks on its own.
“Agentic AI is capable of redefining needs, reasoning and taking action by launching tenders, requesting quotations, searching for suppliers, carrying out evaluations and awarding purchase orders autonomously.”
However, he said people will still make the final decisions.
“The procurement professional remains at the centre of the decision-making process and is always responsible for validating and making decisions.”
