Morocco Launches $500 Million Industrial Zone Expansion Near Casablanca

The Moroccan government has launched tenders for the industrial zone of Bouznika-Cherrat (about 40 km northeast of Casablanca), the creation of a new industrial zone in Sahel Lakhyayta and an extension of the existing industrial zone of Had Soualem (about 40 km southwest of Casablanca), reports the British website Global construction review. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) are in charge.

The Sahel Lakhyayta and Had Soualem projects will cover an area of 111 hectares. The government has already carried out site clearance work. As for the Bouznika industrial zone, it will cover 25 hectares. These initiatives aim to attract investments in the industrial sector and create job opportunities for highly skilled Moroccan labor, which is particularly important in the current global economic context affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green Economy and Digital Economy said in a statement.

A separate offer for each project

Legal entities are eligible to compete for one, two or all three sites. However, they must submit a separate bid for each of the projects. Bidders will have to pay registration fees, purchase the land, build all the necessary infrastructure on site and manage the completed industrial zones according to global standards.

The selection of offers will take place in two phases: evaluating the technical and financial qualifications and project plans, then evaluating the financial offer. Ultimately, the selected candidates will sign a 30-year partnership agreement with the Moroccan government for Had Soualem and Sahel Lakhyayta, and 15 years for Bouznika, it is specified. Submissions must be sent by email before September 17.