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Jan 31 2008

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50 billion MAD expected investment in Casablanca

With a population of more than 3 606 000, 30.8% of whom are below the age of 15 years, the Greater Casablanca Region is the economical center of Morocco as well as the largest and most active city in the Maghreb region and the fifth in the African continent.

39% of the productive units in the country are concentrated in the region of the Greater Casablanca. The branches that contribute most to the industrial production in the region are refining (17%), food processing industries (15%), chemicals (10%) and the clothing industry (9%).

The industrial exports in the region amount to nearly 19 billion DH, i.e. a share of 41% of the total industrial exports.

In recent years, and like other great international cities, the structure of the economy in the region of the Great Casablanca has been changing rapidly. Trade and services are taking a more dominant role, whereas in the industrial sector, operators shift to niches with higher added value. In addition, the emergence of new promising sectors such as aeronautics, offshoring, tourism, Renewable Energies... will develop the structure of the economy in the Greater Casablanca Region in the years to come.

Several reasons exist to convince investors to set up their businesses in Casablanca:

• Important and solvent local Market (3.6 million)
• Important and qualitative job opportunities
• Chain of suppliers and providers
• Diverse activities
• Headquarters for high economical functions
• Chain of suppliers and providers
• Infrastructure with international standards

As an intersection of national distribution and a nest for logistics, the Greater Casablanca Region has many assets ranging from : free trade agreements (EU - US-Arab Countries - Turkey) to delivery times (3 days for the main production centres in Western Europe ), through the important and solvent local market.

The economical capital hosts the first port in the Kingdom and the fourth in Africa, the largest international airport in the country, a real "Hub" for North and West Africa; a urban network of 633 km with an open road system totalizing 49,000 km, a dense motorway network and a large number of railway stations as follows:

80% of Airfreight
51% of passengers' movement
55% of foreign trade
45% of Industrial Exports

The telecommunications sector is booming in Morocco. Three telephone operators, Maroc Telecom comes in the first place then Meditel and recently Wana , providing almost complete fixed network coverage in the region as well as GSM, CDMA, 3G and high speed Internet connection.

Ambitious Economical Development Strategy

The Economical Development Strategy in the Greater Casablanca Region feeds on the overall strategy that Morocco has set for its development, mainly through the 'Emergence' Plan, the 2010 vision for tourism, the policy of the major structuring projects and the kingdom's market positioning in niche sectors with high added value.

4 strategic development main lines of the Greater Casablanca Region have been identified: The territorial declination of the 'Emergence' Plan, 2010 vision for tourism, The Great projects in the Greater Casablanca Region, and regional niches. They result in so many opportunities for investment in strategic sectors with high growth potential.

For each of these main lines, the Territory of the Greater Casablanca Region has designed integrated territorial offers responding to the needs of investors in the real estate for businesses, training and tax incentive for each activity sector.

Major Projects in Greater Casablanca

13 major structuring projects have been identified for the Great Casablanca Region. These include tourism, urban and infrastructure projects to structure and create jobs for the region which may represent real investment opportunities to generate wealth.

For some of these projects (Marina, El Hank, New Zenata city), operators partners in the project have already been identified but the final projects are being elaborated. For the other projects, the objective is to launch a call for expressions of interest in the choice of operators / managers.

1. Congress (Convention Centre) 8. New Zenata city
2. Conversion of slaughter houses 9. New Nouacer city
3. New Anfa City 10. University campus
4. Theme park SINDIBAD 11. Mega Mall
5. Joubaland 12. Touristic Complex Bouskoura
6. El Hank 13. Theme park Hassan II
7. Marina in Casablanca

The Regional Centre for Investment (CRI) in Casablanca

Created in 2002 as part of the deconcentration of investments, the purpose of the RCI goes beyond the mere role of a front office for administrative procedures simplified for the sake of business creators. Its mission is to participate in strategic thinking, conceptualization of the Greater Casablanca offer and promotion of investment opportunities arising from these offers and then accompany investors in their projects. The RCI will deploy all human and material resources to carry out this mission focusing on the promotion of the territory in Casablanca.

? Promoting Investment in the Greater Casablanca Region
For creating jobs and ensuring its continuity, the Greater Casablanca Region adopted an ambitious and competitive economical development strategy.
By adopting a proactive approach and developing territorial offers tailored to the needs of investors in each sector, the RCI's core activity is promoting the region and highlighting its assets.

? Accompanying investors
Territorial Competition, complexity of the sectors' issues and the investors' need for a single representative... these are the reasons that led the RCI to adopt a customer orientation focusing on the investors and the satisfaction of their demands.

? Help for start-ups
The involvement of the RCI employees guarantees a continuous improvement in the quality of services and of the delays in cases handling despite increasing demands. Certified Quality ISO 9001!

For more information please contact:
Smriti Singh
MS&L PR, Dubai
Tel: + 971 4 3676156
Fax:+ 9714 3672615
Email: smriti.singh@dubai.mslpr.com

© Press Release 2008