Morocco currently has 176 existing and planned industrial zones covering 15,000 hectares, but only 62% of their land has been developed, Industry, Trade, Investment and Economic Integration Minister Ryad Mezzour told parliament on Monday.
Speaking during a House of Representatives question session, Mezzour said development rates varied considerably, reaching 85% in some zones while remaining close to zero in others.
The minister said industrial zones employ 656,000 workers, approximately 60% of Morocco’s 1.1 million industrial employees.
He said the ministry had instructed its agencies to direct investment toward less attractive industrial areas with low development rates.
Mezzour also defended prioritizing new industrial land over rehabilitating older privately owned zones, some established 40 to 60 years ago.
He argued that spending public funds to improve land valued at MAD 1,500 to 2,000 per square meter could disproportionately benefit existing property owners.
Instead, he favored mobilizing new land that could be offered to investors for MAD 300 to 400 per square meter.
The minister said his department participates in 93% of eligible local industrial-zone initiatives where land ownership is legally secure, pledging to accelerate projects during the new government term.
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