A local employment workshop in Tangier erupted in controversy Wednesday after a city councilor accused influential figures of profiting illegally from industrial zones intended to boost the region’s economic development.
The workshop was held as part of consultations for the new generation of the Integrated Territorial Development Program in the Tangier-Asilah prefecture.
During the session, Hassan Belkheidr, a Tangier city councilor, alleged that several individuals with no connection to the industrial sector had received plots in major zones such as Tangier Tech and Ksar Sghir, only to lease them to foreign companies for substantial monthly profits.
“Some of these beneficiaries earn between €30,000 and €40,000 per month,” Belkheidr claimed, calling for accountability and the withdrawal of these properties from what he described as politically connected beneficiaries.
He also denounced labor conditions in several factories, accusing employers of “exploiting young people and women”, and urged local business owners to uphold workers’ rights and act with “civic and humanitarian responsibility”, rather than prioritizing profit at the expense of vulnerable groups.
Another participant in the workshop called for more major investment projects in rural areas of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture to help reduce regional unemployment.
The speaker proposed developing 20,000 hectares of greenhouse farming, arguing that Tangier’s vast agricultural potential remains underused and the region still falls short of local food security.
He further suggested creating aquaculture farms along the Tangier-Asilah coastline to generate employment for those working in the fishing sector.
The consultation sessions have so far seen heated discussions about large-scale projects in Tangier that have failed to deliver expected results, with several participants demanding transparency and accountability in how development funds and industrial lands are managed.
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