The Tangiers-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is planning 14 new industrial zones

The board of directors of the Regional Investment Centre (CRI) of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (TTA) region recently held its board meeting, chaired by Mohamed Mhidia, wali of the region, and at which Jalal Benhayoun, director general of the CRI, presented the balance of the economic activity planned in the area over the past year. 

The Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima area is growing and showing great economic momentum within Morocco. As reported by the media Medias 24, Jalal Benhayoun, indicated that the CRI of the TTA region has planned a major industrial and commercial development of all the cities in the area through 14 new industrial zones occupying some 630 hectares. 

This economic initiative has been allocated a budget of more than 2.7 billion dirhams and is expected to create around 88,000 jobs. 

As Medias 24 also reported, the Unified Regional Investment Commission (CRUI) held 91 meetings last year in which 307 projects were approved, with an increase in the volume of activity of 75% compared to 2020. The investment made in these projects in 2021 amounted to Dh35 billion, increasing by 120% compared to the investment made in the previous financial year.

This CRUI plan will create some 155,000 stable jobs and it should be noted that the processing time for the files of these industrial projects has been reduced from 28 days in 2020 to 8.3 in 2021. 

In a press release issued by the CRI of the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, it was also noted that "administrative procedures have been facilitated for the creation of 3,071 companies, with an increase of 30% compared to 2020; capable of generating 8,700 stable jobs". 

Jalal Benhayoun also referred to the Integrated Business Support and Financing Programme (PIAFE) and pointed out that, since its entry into force, 3,424 projects have been financed with a budget of 691 million dirhams. In terms of financing capacity, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region ranks third nationally, which places it in an important position in Morocco's economic development. 

Morocco continues to attach great importance to the northern region and its economic development. The region of Tetouan saw important initiatives such as the large outlet shopping area in the Tangier Med area planned for this April.

The aim of this area called Tangier-Med-Zones is to turn the region into a commercial attraction and meet the demand of tourists who choose this area to enjoy their holidays. "The strategic vision of King Mohammed VI to create a port and industrial platform in the Strait of Gibraltar has been decisive in attracting renowned national and international operators and strengthening a diversified industrial and logistical ecosystem," said Jaafar Mrhardy, the general director of Tangier Med Zones, at the start of the works, as reported by El Español. 

Rabat is finalising in Tangier-Tetouan an industrial and tourism development plan like the one in the north-east of the country, in the region of Nador, to boost the area in general, on which the Alaoui kingdom continues to focus.

The Port of Tangier Med is also of great importance in the area and has been given a major boost by the Moroccan state, making it one of the most important ports in the area. According to a new American study published by the Priceonomics website, the port of Tangier Med is among the three most efficient container ports in the world. The study is based on three criteria to measure the efficiency of 44 of the largest ports in the world in 2021. These parameters are the berthing period (the time the ship waits to arrive at the port), the period in port (the time the ship remains in port during the unloading and shipment of goods), and the total time (berthing period and stay in port calculated in days).