Tangiers
From The Report: Morocco 2018
View in Online Reader

In the late 1990s King Mohammed VI chose to use Tangiers as a catalyst for the transformation of the north by turning the historically sidelined region into a motor of the national economy. In the past decade, the region has seen the launch of a new economic development plan, leveraging Tangier’s strategic location at the Strait of Gibraltar. At the confluence of these key maritime routes is the cornerstone of the city’s multi-sector development strategy: the Tanger-Med port complex, which unleashed the region economic potential. Ongoing projects such as the Mohammed VI Tech City bode well for the future of the region, which is well positioned to attract further global players in increasingly complex, technology-intensive industries. One of Tangiers’ key challenges for the future will be the extension of the benefits from increased foreign direct investment to the rest of the region, including more isolated areas such as Al Hoceima.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Northern light: Tangiers has established itself as the epicentre of a burgeoning region
OBG
plus

In the late 1990s King Mohammed VI chose to use Tangiers as a catalyst for the transformation of northern Morocco by turning the historically sidelined region into an engine of the national economy. While the region had lagged behind much of the country for decades, the late 1990s saw the launch of King Mohammed VI’s economic development plan, leveraging Tangiers’ strategic location at the Strait of Gibraltar – where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea – for the growth…

Interview

Driving integration: Marc Nassif, CEO, Groupe Renault Morocco, on the country’s logistics strengths
OBG
plus

Interview:Marc Nassif How has Morocco’s status as an industrial hub evolved over the last two decades? MARC NASSIF: The automotive ecosystem began in the 1960s with our plant in Casablanca. Since the launch of the Tangiers plant project in 2007, the industry has seen a strong acceleration. With a combined output of more than 376,000 units in 2017, most of our production is exported. Today, with all these facilities and production forces, Renault Morocco’s exports represent 10% of Groupe…

Analysis

A smarter city: Large-scale infrastructure projects are transforming the urban landscape
OBG
plus

While the successful implementation of the Tangiers-Metropolis programme has played a key role in boosting the city’s development, a number of large-scale projects made crucial advances in 2017. Moving forward it is the construction, expansion and modernisation of roads, rail links, hospitality infrastructures and ports that continue to establish Tangiers’ position as a diversifying smart city. TANGIERS TECH CITY: The city of Tangiers holds a central role in the government’s six-year,…

Interview

A competitive focus: Omar Moro, President, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Tangiers-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, on using incentives to spur regional growth
OBG
plus

Interview:Omar Moro What challenges have accompanied the region’s recent economic growth? OMAR MORO: The previous three years have been marked by the implementation of the regionalisation project, an instrument for the economic and social development of the Tangiers-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region. Currently, the region is experiencing significant growth across multiple sectors, including the manufacturing industries, which employ some 121,700 people. The growth of Tangiers’ industries has…

Analysis

A place to stay: Tourism is increasingly integral to regional development
OBG
plus

The municipality of Tangiers has optimised its business and leisure tourism offerings to match increasing international demand, benefitting from its proximity to Morocco’s major source markets in Europe, its breadth of cultural and historical tourism products and the rising presence of large multinationals. GROWING PLANS: In 2013 a regional development plan (contrat programme régional, CPR) was launched as part of Vision 2020, Morocco’s national tourism strategy (see Tourism chapter).…

Interview

A unique position: Maria Helena Antolin, President, Spanish Association of Automotive Equipment and Component Manufacturers; and Vice-Chair, Grupo Antolin, on Tangiers’ place in the auto sector
OBG
plus

Interview:Maria Helena Antolin What are the major challenges faced by automotive equipment companies in Morocco? MARIA HELENA ANTOLIN: The transportation of goods remains challenging because the majority of them are quite large and require containers, which as a result makes logistics expensive for car interiors. This is why client proximity is crucial for us, so that parts are not moving back and forth. The only components that are worth being exported from here are small parts, such as…