[Startup Interview] Kasim Chihabi, Founder and CEO, Moreco, Morocco
Kasim Chihabi is founder of Moreco, started a year ago in Casablanca, Morocco. His interview with Africa Business Communities:
Would you introduce Moreco?
Moreco is a Moroccan company located in Casablanca, specialized in the producing and developing of bio-revolutionary products for humans, animals and agriculture. We commercialize scientific researches made by professoremeritus Dirk Vandenberghe (from Belgium) on silicon.
Moreco produces and distributes products with a patented biologically active absorbable form of silicon for humans, animals and horti/agriculture products. We also provide ecological disinfection by hydrogen peroxide for water purification and biological disease control for agriculture and industries.
What did you do before you decided to start up Moreco?
I owned a transport company in Belgium. I also got involved in the nightlife business – I owned a Latino bar, restaurant and later a club in Antwerpen.
How would you describe the Startup Environment in Morocco in terms of support that is given by the government?
I’ll speak of my personal experience. We (my brother, Mustapha, and I own Moreco) are 100 % self-made. No support of anyone any kind was offered by anyone. We worked night and day in the past year to get the company going. Going knocking on doors would have been a waste of time in Morocco, in my opinion. The banks are there when you do not need them; this has to be changed because Morocco really does have the potential to become a startup hub in Africa.
What can Moreco do that other companies cannot?
We add value. We can feed the growing world population with healthy grown food, with no chemicals nor fake bio fertilizers. I am certain our products can cause a green revolution in the entire continent for sure. All we need to grow is finance and the right partnerships.
What can Moreco deliver by the end of 2015?
Amazing results in agricultural tests, increasing yields by 40 percent minimum on all crops for the food supplements on the absorbable form of silicon, we are still working to obtain the permits in Morocco for our product. We have plans to export our knowledge through the rest of Africa. We invite everyone to join our community; we could all live and eat healthier.
Africa Business Communities is conducting a series of interviews with CEOs and high-end professionals in Africa. Are you interested in an interview? Please send an e-mail to Andrea Ayemoba: andrea@africabusinesscommunities.com