Morocco and ECOWAS: A Strategic Adhesion with Big Potential for Moroccan SMEs

Abstract

The SMEs (Small and Medium-sized enterprises) are an essential component of the world' s economy. They represent more than 95% of the global existing companies and they largely contribute to the jobs creation inside many countries. In Morocco for example, the SMEs represent the large majority of active companies in the market (95%) and contribute to 40% of private investments and to 30% of exportations. The aim of this paper is to perform a systematic and recent literature review to determine the different theories of the internationalization of SMEs. The selected theories are treated from three major perspectives (traditional perspective, network perspective and emergent perspective). In addition, this paper discusses the Moroccan recent politic of integration in Africa and the eventual adhesion of the country to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This adhesion will offer more opportunities to the Moroccan SMEs in West Africa.