Private ownership is permitted in all but a few sectors reserved for the state, such as phosphate mining. Economic analysts, however, speculate that as Morocco's phosphate processing increasingly becomes open to foreign investment, its mining sector may follow suit. Apart from a few exceptions, private entities may freely establish, acquire and dispose of interests in business enterprises.
In 2009 a number of firms including the national port operator (Marsa Maroc) were placed on the short list of companies to be privatized in the future.