Analysis

A step up: Boosting industrialisation and valued added in agribusiness
OBG
plus

Although Morocco’s economy is comparatively welldiversified, the agriculture sector still plays a significant role in terms of rural development. The sector accounted for 13.2% of GDP in 2011, rising to 15% in 2013, and provided roughly 40% of total employment, with millions more indirectly reliant on it. As a result, the government’s agricultural strategy, the Green Morocco Plan (Plan Maroc Vert,…

Analysis

Getting from A to B faster: A high-speed railway will improve connectivity and reduce travel times
OBG
plus

Investments in the transport network in the north of Morocco over the past decade have allowed the economy of the Tangiers-Tétouan area to grow exponentially. The upgrade of the highway and rural road network, expansion of the region’s main airport, and the construction of a railway that connects the industrial zones directly to the Tanger-Med port have helped to spur construction activity and…

Analysis

Knowledge market: Offering small business support and professional training
OBG
plus

The rapid influx of foreign direct investment in industry and related service sectors has helped provide new revenues for local businesses in the Tangiers-Tétouan region. This is particularly true in terms of employment. After decades of emigration, the Tangiers area is now a magnet for both low- and high-skilled workers nationwide. However, the presence of a number of foreign investors in the…

Analysis

Main attraction: Regional strategy aims to develop high-end and rural tourism
OBG
plus

Tourist attractions in northern Morocco are diverse, ranging from urban tourism in the historic cities of Tangiers and Tétouan, to natural parks, niche destinations in Assilah and Chefchaouen, and ancient Roman ruins in areas such as Lixus and Volubilis. The potential is real, but existing tourism infrastructure limits the industry’s capacity. As a result, tourism authorities in Tangiers-Tétouan…

Analysis

Strong headwinds: Renewable energy programmes hold promise for the northern region
OBG
plus

Energy is a significant concern for policymakers in Morocco, given the country’s lack of hydrocarbons resources, which makes it reliant on imports to meet demand – and the northern region is no exception, both with regard to renewable energy generation and energy efficiency. Indeed, if anything, the issue is more acute in the north, given the dramatic increase in industrial consumption in recent…

Analysis

Tomorrow’s metropolis: Infrastructure and urban development projects will overhaul Tangiers
OBG
plus

The government has invested heavily in improvements to Morocco’s transport networks, port capacity and industrial infrastructure in the past two decades. Whereas public investment programmes are coming to a close in a number of areas, the Tangiers-Tétouan region is set to receive an ambitious slate of building projects between 2010 and 2017. Two key projects, the Tangiers-Metropolis programme…

Analysis

Moroccans lead the way: Local demand fills the vacuum as fewer foreign buyers seek second homes
OBG
plus

The luxury real estate market in Morocco has traditionally been driven by foreign buyers, especially from Europe, searching for a secondary residence. The economic downturn after 2008 altered the market when demand from these buyers declined sharply. Initially, local wealthy Moroccans were also reticent to buy into the luxury market, but this dynamic has begun to change. INVESTORS: Foreign investment…

Analysis

Tidying up: Unified construction code expected to sweep away legal ambiguities
OBG
plus

For many years the construction sector has tended to operate according to a frequently ambiguous and inadequate legal framework. It is governed by a patchwork of incongruous legal texts which are enforced by various levels of government, from local to national. As a result of this, building has become difficult to monitor and the responsibility of the various stakeholders is unclear. For the past…

Analysis

A helping hand: Several programmes aim to strengthen regional SMEs
OBG
plus

The rising tide of government investment in the last decade has resulted in a marked improvement in the Oriental region’s business infrastructure, increased activity, the creation of an efficient transport network and improved linkages with other economic centres. The establishment of modern industrial platforms has also expanded opportunities for capital. Oujda’s Regional Investment Council…

Analysis

A new face: Urban development projects transform the regional capital
OBG
plus

A host of urban renewal and infrastructure projects have completely altered the cityscape of Oujda over the last decade as part of a strategy aimed at revitalising the regional capital. Infrastructure programmes have had an impact on nearly all elements of the city. Highway access roads and city entrances have been built or rehabilitated; the medina, the historic city centre that retains an important…