Mr Mohamed Benalilou, Chairman of the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight against Corruption (INPPLC), stated that responsible business conduct has become an essential component for sustainability, competitiveness and economic integration, at both national and international levels. He made the remarks in a speech at the opening of the event ‘Responsible Business Conduct in Morocco: A Strategic Lever for Sustainability and Competitiveness, organized by the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on 20 and 21 October 2026 in Rabat.

Mr. Benalilou explained that integrity is one of the key pillars of responsible conduct, because it ensures that the legitimate pursuit of profit is consistent with respect of competition rules, the protection of rights and the safeguarding of the public interest. He stressed that integrity cannot be reduced to formal compliance with requirements, or to the adoption of charters and codes that may remain detached from investment decisions. It is a mode of governance and an institutional culture that embeds transparency and accountability at every level of management. He added that corruption damages a business's reputation, its commercial relationships and the trust of investors and partners, threatens its ability to endure, and weakens incentives, innovation and quality.

In this context, the Chairman of the Authority recalled the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and their 2023 updates, particularly with regard to due diligence and the risk-based approach. He called for identifying the corruption risks linked to businesses' activities, commercial relationships and value chains, and for working to prevent, monitor and address them.

The Chairman went on to say that internal control, ethical rules, compliance programmes and risk monitoring are essential pillars. He cautioned, however, that their abundance does not compensate for weak will, and that complete documentation does not prove sound practice. An ethics charter gains its value when it becomes a reference point in decision-making and in handling conflicts of interest. As for the reporting mechanism, its effectiveness rests on trust, confidentiality, the protection of whistleblowers acting in good faith, and the handling of complaints seriously, independently and within reasonable timeframes.

Mr. Benalilou stressed that embedding responsible conduct is not only the responsibility of businesses alone, but also requires a transparent and fair institutional environment, based on clear procedures, stable rules, transparent processes and equal opportunities for economic actors. In his view, unclear procedures and broad discretionary powers without adequate safeguards open the door to bargaining, and improving the business environment and preventing corruption converge in a single endeavor. He called for a relationship between the public sector and the business world built on partnership in prevention, before monitoring and enforcement. The Chairman also stated that the Authority regards the private sector as an essential partner in building the national integrity system.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Benalilou said that the real test lies in the ability of a committed business to succeed without having to compromise its commitment. He noted that guaranteeing this opportunity strengthens productive investment and creates jobs. He expressed the hope that the discussions will help shape practical steps to embed responsible conduct in the life of businesses and in the business environment.