As the Moroccan transport sector has taken off in recent years, the government has embarked on an ambitious plan to cut costs and improve the sector, expanding port capacity, creating logistical zones and improving domestic distribution infrastructure, including Customs systems, multimodal connections and dry ports. Emphasis On Costs & Time In 2010 the country launched the National Strategy for…
In 2009 Morocco launched its solar plan as part of its ambitions to generate 42% of its energy from renewables by 2020, with 14% coming from solar. The first outcome of this plan was the completion of Noor I, the world’s largest solar energy project, in Ouarzazate in February 2016. Authorities are now looking to build on this success and further increase solar capacity by identifying new areas for…
With an installed capacity of about 1770 MW, hydro-power plays a key role in Morocco’s energy mix, contributing 22% of its power generation. The implementation of the energy development strategy in 2008 has led to a modest but progressive increase in capacity. This will continue through 2020 under the framework of public-private partnerships. Overview Morocco has long opted for the development…
With an installed capacity of approximately 800 MW in 2015, Morocco represents the third-largest African market for wind energy behind South Africa (1053 MW) and Egypt (810 MW). As part of Morocco’s ambition to attain 42% of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2020, in recent years authorities have accelerated the development of large-scale wind farms across the kingdom by increasing…
Over the last three years, the government has accelerated improvements to the country’s recycling, waste management and sanitation infrastructure as part of the roll out of Morocco’s Charter for Environment adopted in 2014 and in preparation for the 22nd UN Conference on Climate Change in Marrakech in November 2016. Managing Waste The government initiated a Dh40bn (€3.7bn) national programme…
Home to an abundance of wildlife, Morocco has in recent years introduced legislation to protect its environment and reduce the impact of human activity on the country’s biological landscape. Biodiversity One of the most ecologically diverse countries in the Mediterranean area, the kingdom hosts around 40 distinct ecosystems, almost three-quarters of which are forest-based. Sheltering 4000 vascular…
In 2015 Morocco provided a new impetus for the development of telecoms by launching the rollout of its 4G network, a technology which is expected to generate new revenue streams for operators and drive growth in the knowledge economy. 4G BID: In mid-March 2015 Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télé communications, ANRT) awarded three…
A major new financial city and investment regime, Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is in the process of being developed in Morocco’s economic capital, with the aim of transforming it into a major regional investment and finance centre. New Regime The CFC regime effectively came into being in 2011, when a decree enforcing the law creating it – which had been passed the previous year – was issued,…
As Morocco’s logistical and economic hub, Casablanca has traditionally been the bedrock of business tourism in the country. Now, owing to increased air connectivity and the expansion of conference and entertainment venues, the city is drawing growing interest from operators promoting it as an emerging destination for both leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). Development…
In a bid to attract 1.5m additional visitors by 2018, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (Office National Marocain du Tourisme, ONMT) rolled out a Dh400m (€36.7m) investment plan in 2015 aimed at diversifying its source markets through two main channels: improving Morocco’s air connectivity – with a projected opening of 57 new air routes – and the development of digital marketing campaigns. Germany The…
