The Moroccan government has announced the construction of a flood protection canal for the Mohammed VI Industrial City (Tangier Tech) in the Tangier-Asilah province. The decision, made in late January, aims to safeguard the ambitious industrial hub developed in partnership with China.
The measure was officially published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette under Decree No. 2.24.1146, dated January 23, 2024. The decree states that “public utility necessitates the construction of a canal to protect Mohammed VI Industrial City – Tangier Tech – from flooding in the Tangier-Asilah province.”
The decision is based on Law No. 7.81, which governs expropriation for public utility and temporary occupation, as well as Decree No. 2.82.382, which implements the law.
The decree was proposed by the Minister of Equipment and Water and includes a detailed site plan at a 1/50,000 scale. The Prime Minister has tasked the Minister of Equipment and Water with executing the project.
The Mohammed VI Industrial City project, a cornerstone of Morocco’s economic collaboration with China, was formalized in a 2019 memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
The agreement was signed between the Tangier Tech Development Company (SAT) and the Chinese firms China Communications Construction Company Limited International (CCCC) and its subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
The origins of the project date back to 2017, when King Mohammed VI presided over the presentation of the new “Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City” at the Royal Palace of Marshan. The smart city is envisioned as a catalyst for economic growth in Tangier and the broader northern region of Morocco.
In 2020, a virtual signing ceremony was held to finalize partnership agreements with CCCC and CRBC in Beijing, alongside representatives from the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, the Tangier-Med Special Agency, and Bank of Africa (formerly BMCE Bank of Africa).
A statement from Bank of Africa confirmed that CCCC and CRBC officially acquired a 35% stake in the Tangier Tech Development Company, joining other stakeholders such as BMCE Bank of Africa, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima regional government, and the Tangier-Med Special Agency.
This strategic investment is expected to strengthen the financial foundation of the development company and accelerate the realization of the Mohammed VI Industrial City, positioning Tangier as a global hub for industrial and technological innovation.
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