The Government of Morocco increases investment in the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy of the Moroccan Government, visited Tangier to sign four agreements for a total amount of 581 million dirhams (56 million euros) to increase investment in the northern enclave of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. 

Of these 581 million dirhams, 317 million dirhams (30 million euros) were mobilised by the Moroccan government's own Ministry of Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy. 

The Moroccan state attaches great importance to the northern region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, where this new investment will help to improve the infrastructure of urban planning and housing in the area. 

This visit by the Moroccan minister is part of the Moroccan government's strategy to increase investment in the northern region with a view to equalising the standard of living of citizens and balancing the existing level between different national territories, improving the quality of life of residents in those areas where it is most necessary in order to eliminate existing social differences between different parts. In this case, in urban planning, housing and territorial policies. 

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri told the local press that the Moroccan government's intention is to promote the development of rural centres, as well as the urban qualification of the region's under-equipped neighbourhoods, in order to improve the conditions of the region's inhabitants. 

The minister indicated that the agreements initialled ‘aim to strengthen the mechanism for signing contracts and partnerships with the various local actors and stakeholders, while mobilising the necessary resources to achieve sustainable social development and better living conditions for the population’, as reported by various media such as La Vie Éco.

Fatima Ezzhara El Mansouri was accompanied during the visit by the Secretary of State for Housing, Adib Benbrahim, the wali of the Tangiers-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, Younès Tazi, the President of the Regional Council, Omar Moro, and several local officials. 

On the ground in Tangier, the Minister also inquired about the progress of the Hafa district development project and the project to improve under-equipped neighbourhoods at the entrance to the city, near the high-speed line (LGV).

The Minister of Territorial Planning signed a regional framework agreement to improve the centres of rural communities in the region, for the period 2025-2027, for a total cost of 420 million dirhams (40.5 million euros), of which 210 million (20 million euros) was mobilised by the Ministry and 210 million by the Regional Council of the Region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. 

This framework agreement, which intervenes in accordance with the vision of development of the rural world, concerns the development of the centres of these communes, the reinforcement of access to basic facilities and local services, and the improvement of roads and public lighting.

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri also signed a specific financing agreement for 26 rural centres, entering the first phase of the implementation of the regional framework agreement.

The minister also signed a financing agreement dedicated to the Integrated Development Programme of CREM Zoumi, in the province of Ouezzane, a pilot project in the region. This agreement aims to finance infrastructure strengthening works, urban improvement and rehabilitation of seven under-equipped neighbourhoods, the rehabilitation of local markets, as well as the creation of a socio-cultural centre and a roadside rest stop.

The choice of the emerging rural centres was based on a study carried out by the Ministry, which identified the priority points for the prefectures and provinces of the region.

In addition, in the city of Martil, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri signed a fourth agreement for the financing of complementary works for the urban qualification of the poorly equipped neighbourhoods of the cities of Martil, M'diq and Fnideq, in addition to the centres of the municipalities of Allyene and Belyounech. This work concerns local roads, street lighting, as well as the development of public squares and local land.

This economic effort of the Moroccan government is a further demonstration of the state's efforts to further develop the northern region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, a very important territory in the economic and industrial fabric of the Moroccan kingdom, which has recently received significant investment thanks to the work of the Moroccan government led by Aziz Akhannouch and the Regional Investment Centre of the Region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, focused on attracting both public and private investments thanks to the public measures implemented to attract investments, framed in the New Investment Charter promoted by King Mohammed VI.

The New Investment Charter provides significant sums of money to encourage the development and proliferation of various economic activities and favourable measures, such as tax exemptions or streamlining bureaucratic procedures, for all those entrepreneurs interested in setting up their business and developing various infrastructures on national territory.