Italy to build tourism complex northern Morocco

Italy will build a tourism complex in Assilah (northern Morocco) over a period of three years, said an Italian official in charge of external trade, underlining that his country intends to reinforce its presence in the Moroccan market through the 51 million Euro-worth project.

Italian deputy-minister of productive activities in charge of exterior trade, Adolfo Urso, said in a release made public in Rome that the project which is initiated by the Italian Company for Assilah Port (SOIPA) will consist of the construction of a yachting resort, a fisheries port, a yacht club and a mall.

The Italian consortium plans also to build two luxury hotels, a theater and a health center, he added.

Some 700 new jobs will be generated by this project.

"We want to start a fresh era with Morocco to allow Italy improve its presence in the Moroccan market that offers all the required opportunities to our small and middle sized enterprises," Urso noted, recalling that his country is currently ranked sixth among Morocco's trade partners and controls 5 percent of the kingdom's market.