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Analysis

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

Analysis

Dual speed: A development strategy is in place to attract both large-scale and niche tourism visitors
OBG
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With 200 km of Mediterranean coastline, mountainous areas, thermal springs and a desert oasis, the Oriental region is not short of tourist attractions. The regional development initiative has outlined plans to build its tourism potential at several levels, targeting different markets. These include the construction of large-scale, luxury beachside resorts in Saïdia and Marchica, efforts to increase…

Analysis

Getting industrious: Three new zones will boost value-added processing in the region
OBG
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The Moroccan real estate and business park developer MEDZ, a subsidiary of the Caisse de Dêpot et de Gestion (CDG), is working to set up and commercialise three industrial zones in the Oriental region. MEDZ manages a network of 14 zones nationwide focused on tourism, industry and offshoring, with Oriental hosting a greater concentration of MEDZ projects than any other region. This is an indicator…

Analysis

Powering up: With the local climate providing an edge over competitors, the country is set to expand renewables
OBG
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Since the announcement of the 2020 Energy Strategy five years ago, followed by the introduction of the 2010 Renewable Energy Law, Morocco has seen a significant increase in interest in clean energy, with the biggest developments in solar and wind, both of which are planned to contribute 14% each (or 2000 MW) to the country’s installed capacity by the end of 2020. Anas Kabbaj, development manager…

Analysis

Growth opportunities: There are plans to increase the value and volume of agricultural output
OBG
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Agriculture has always been a major component of the local economy in the Oriental region, historically vying with mining as one of the main revenue earners. However, like several other regions in Morocco, the Oriental has struggled to capture a larger part of the value of local production, often depending on raw exports or subsistence-level farming. A total of 77 projects were designated for the…

Analysis

Testing the waters: Offshore fields offer new possibilities and solutions to rising imports
OBG
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Although exploration activity in Morocco’s offshore basin has thus far not produced commercial discoveries, a number of oil players have increased their presence in recent times. According to the country’s national oil company, the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), a total of 27 wells are planned for 2014, of which at least 10 are in the offshore Atlantic basin. This…

Analysis

Sea change: A major port project aims to make the region a maritime transport hub
OBG
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The Nador West Med Port project, which is still in the early stages of construction, aims to build a deepwater port with trans-shipment and container facilities and stands to transform the Oriental region’s position in Morocco’s maritime transport system. The region is currently served by one international port, Nador Port at Beni Ansar, which was built in 1978 for imports to the region,…

Analysis

Changes ahead: Reforms will gradually subject the sector to corporate and income tax
OBG
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As a direct result of the global slowdown, regional unrest and weaker demand in the EU, Morocco’s budget deficit widened to 7.7% in 2012, its highest level since 1990. This can largely be seen as a result of falling foreign direct investment and exports, as well as increased social spending over the past few years. In grappling with this deficit, the government is looking to boost tax revenues…

Analysis

Fruit of the oasis: A scheme to boost date production will also support regional development
OBG
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While Morocco is a major agricultural exporter to Europe, as evidenced by a glance at the produce aisle of any large supermarket, one popular type of fruit is rarely exported outside the country: dates. Historically, the country has consumed more dates than it has produced, but activity in the segment is expected to be revived under a new development programme launched by the National Agency for…

Analysis

Strength in numbers: Encouraging aggregation via the development of integrated projects
OBG
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While the Green Morocco Plan (Plan Maroc Vert, PMV), launched in 2008, has brought about significant changes to Moroccan agriculture, the sector remains constrained by a number of obstacles, such as limited water resources, farm fragmentation, outdated infrastructure and inadequate distribution channels. One of the solutions outlined in the PMV to address these issues is to encourage aggregation…