Morocco needs 30 billion annually for infrastructure next 10 years

Morocco should inject 20 to 30 billion dirhams annually in infrastructure projects over the ten coming years to back a target-growth rate of 7 to 8 percent, said Minister of Equipment, Bouameur Taghouane.

The official told the Moroccan weekly "La Vie economique" that during the 1986-1996 period, public investments allotted to infrastructure amounted to an annual 15 billion DH ( $ 1= 9.2 DH) and that the sector financing annual deficit was worth 10 billion DH.

Taghouane said present budget constraints make it difficult to substantially increase public financing of infrastructure, but the private sector can contribute to infrastructure projects. He said in this respect that experiences on the participation of the private sector in the financing and management of projects in the sectors of highways, ports, drinking water are being conducted.

He mentioned as an instance the participation of the private sector in the construction of the casablanca-El-Jadida highway section and said his department will give concessions to the private sector in the form of build, operate and transfer (BOT) to build other highway sections.

The private sector will also be associated in ports activities, especially in the management of marinas, as well as in boats maintenance.