King Mohammed tour takes him to Tangier
Morocco, Politics, 10/14/1999

King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, left Casablanca via Kenitra and Larache to Tangier Wednesday where he visited the Gznaya industrial zone being developed and was briefed on perspectives for the area, the offshore export zone of Tangier, the sports complex, the wholesale market as well as efforts in fighting unhealthy housing in the city.

The Gznaya industrial zone, north of the city, close to the airport and halfway between the city and the Atlantic harbor under construction, has required some $10 million (100 million DHS) to develop the 260 acre area into 1260 ready to use spaces.

Small and medium enterprises are already settling in the area with a target of 30,000 jobs to make of Tangier one of the industrial hubs in the Maghreb.

The Tangier offshore zone will be operational as of July 2,000 with the completion of the first 230 acre part. 60 firms have already been authorized to operate next summer. "Tangier Free Zone," a $6 million (60 million DHS) capital firm, given birth to by the grouping BCM-BMCE-SNI-ONA in 1998, says Moroccan applicants accounted for 38 %, and Spanish ones for 30 %, standing both for a $70 million (700 million DHS) investment.

As of 2006, the zone will be able to host 1,000 firms generating 60,000 jobs.

Early in the afternoon, King Mohammed VI had inaugurated the highway stretch connecting Larache to Sidi-Lyamani. The 28 km long stretch by-passing the city includes 7 bridges, 18 passageways for pedestrians and 19 hydraulic works. It adds up to 176 km Rabat-Tangier highway axis which will be 233 km long when completed.

4,000 vehicles will be using daily the stretch constructed by a Moroccan-Spanish group thanks to a European Investment Bank loan worth some $44.4 million (444 million DHS).

On site, the sovereign decorated several Moroccan and foreign officials and engineers involved in the project and heard explanations on the project "zone Bour 3," meant to cultivate and improve yields in an area of 42,400 acres in the Loukkos basin.

King Mohammed VI carries on his tour to several northern provinces today visiting Tetuan where he is to launch the construction works of a roadbelt connecting the cities of Fnideq and Ksar Seghir on the Mediterranean coast. He will be briefed on the Fnideq-Tetuan highway project.

Previous Stories:
  Maroc Mondial 2006 Association signs sponsoring accord with Royal Air Maroc   (10/13/1999)
  Tangiers inhabitants pin great hopes on king's visit   (10/13/1999)
  King Mohammed winds up visit to Casablanca   (10/13/1999)

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