Chaouia: Industrial infrastructure strengthened.

• Creation of a new 20-hectare industrial park
• Delivery of the first lots scheduled for next October

Beyond its agricultural vocation, the Chaouia-Ouardigha region benefits from its proximity to Greater Casablanca to position itself as a new industrial hub. Achieving this objective requires attracting more investors to the region by first facilitating their installation conditions. This is the spirit behind the creation of the new Settapark industrial park covering an area of 20 hectares. A project initiated by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco (CFCIM) in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, the municipality of Settat, the Chamber of Commerce and the CRI of the city. The site development and improvement work is almost complete. 85 industrial lots are therefore offered for rent at an average price of 5 DH per m² per month. This will allow the beneficiary operators to build the buildings and premises of their future company. The site is equipped with facilities and services such as security, waste collection, banks, shops, restaurants, etc. A first meeting of the lot allocation committee is scheduled for September 30, 2014. "So far, we have received nearly twenty applications covering different sectors," says Mounir Benyahya, director in charge of Industrial Parks at CFCIM. According to him, the delivery of the first lots is expected from next October. This will allow activity to begin at the park before the end of 2015. Regarding the criteria used for the allocation of lots, Benyahya mentions in particular those of environmental respect and job creation. Thus, the promoters of this project are aiming for the creation of 7,000 jobs, including 4,000 direct jobs, and a total investment of around one billion DH, half of which is FDI. Note that the completion of this project required an investment of nearly 95 million DH, including 32 million DH for the acquisition of the land by CFCIM. The park will be managed by the company "Settapark." A public limited company with capital amounting to 40 million DH, mobilized in particular by the municipality of Settat and certain banks. It should also be recalled that CFCIM has already initiated the creation of two other parks similar to the one in Settat, which are currently operational. The first is located in Bouskoura over 28 hectares and the second in Ouled Salah over 32 hectares.

A multi-service mega park in Benslimane
More than fifty investment projects were approved by the CRI of Settat during the first half of 2014. This, for a total amount of nearly 24 billion DH, three times more compared to the same period of the previous year. By sector, industry comes first with a 76% share. While the largest share, 17.5 billion DH, goes to a project presented by the HCO subsidiary of Onapar for the creation of a multi-service park in the province of Benslimane. "It is an integrated park: Sanitech, bio-pole, logistics, industry and showroom with a residential area," it is specified. In terms of business creation, 153 were created during the first six months of this year. Among them is a major French company, "LH Aviation," specializing in aeronautical construction. It has just relocated its activity to the municipality of Ain Tizgha, province of Benslimane, under the name "LH Aviation Maroc SA".

Noureddine EL AISSI.

Leconomiste.com

Published September 8, 2014.

Online September 9, 2014.