JOINT PRESS RELEASE
BEI/12/134
4 October 2012
Morocco: EUR 100 million for technology parks
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EIB provides €100 million for technology parks developed by MEDZ.
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These will foster innovation and business competitiveness.
Innovation is key to ensuring the competitiveness of Moroccan businesses and their integration into the
global economy. This insight has led MEDZ, a subsidiary of CDG Développement, to launch seven
technology park projects across the length and breadth of the Kingdom of Morocco. These innovative
facilities are designed to provide international standard infrastructure and services and foster the
development and competitiveness of Moroccan companies by catering for their training and R&D needs.
To help finance its programme, MEDZ has obtained a €100 million loan from the European Investment
Bank (EIB).
The loan agreement was signed on 4 October 2012 at the Technopolis Park by the Head of Caisse de Dépôt
et de Gestion and Chairman of MEDZ’s Supervisory Board, Anass Houir Alami, and EIB Vice-President
Philippe de Fontaine Vive.
This operation will be mounted in the framework of Morocco’s National Industrial Emergence Pact and will
help to finance the construction of:
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Atlantic Free Zone in Kénitra.
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Haliopolis Park in Agadir.
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MidParc in Nouasser.
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Oujda Technopole.
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Technopolis Park in Rabat-Salé.
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Agropolis in Meknès.
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Agropole in Berkane.
These technology parks form knowledge and value added clusters thanks to the quality and range of the
corporate services on offer:
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World-beating facilities.
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Competitive property services.
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Wide range of general and operational services, etc.
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One stop shop for administration.
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Integrated training and R&D, etc.
At the signing ceremony, Mr Anass Houir Alami said that: “MEDZ, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary
this year, has seen its business steadily grow. It is contributing to a number of large-scale infrastructure
projects furthering Morocco’s economic and social development. (…) MEDZ is now intent on turning its
projects into centres of excellence and competitiveness, creating true drivers of regional development. (…)
This loan is providing timely support for MEDZ’s ambitious programme of investing nearly 3 billion dirham in
these seven technology parks. (…) The signing of this agreement is a pledge of confidence in the ability of
MEDZ and the CDG group in general to carry out flagship infrastructure projects capable of providing
sustained support for sectoral strategies and taking the economy forward (…).”
EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive welcomed the signing of the loan agreement with MEDZ,
saying that: “This loan confirms the decisive catalytic role played by the EIB in the long-term financing of
large-scale innovation projects. (…) The synergies created between research, higher education and industry
will spearhead development and economic competitiveness. What is more, they will provide a unique
opportunity for young people”.
With 2012 marking 10 years of the EIB’s activity in the Mediterranean, the signing of this loan underscores
the 35-year quality partnership between the EIB and Morocco, which has given rise to €4.7 billion worth of
financing in key sectors such as energy, transport, water, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),
urban infrastructure, industry and education.
In 2011, Morocco was one of the leading beneficiaries of EIB action, attracting €200 million of investment.
Since January 2012, the EIB has committed the record amount of over €450 million to practical projects
directly promoting Morocco’s economic and social development.
Note to editors:
About EIB-FEMIP
The EIB is the leading financial investor in the Mediterranean via FEMIP (Facility for Euro-Mediterranean
Investment and Partnership), which was established in October 2002. FEMIP provides practical support for
economic and social development in the Mediterranean with the aim of improving living conditions in the
partner countries. In December 2011, this commitment represented a total investment of more than EUR 13
billion.
For further information: http://www.eib.org/femip
About MEDZ
MEDZ, a subsidiary of CDG Développement, is tasked with designing, building, developing and managing
new business parks (for tourism, industry, offshoring and other specific areas) meeting international
equipment and service standards and pursuing integrated performance, innovation and sustainable
development objectives.
MEDZ supports and implements public policies in the areas of:
•
Tourism (Vision 2010).
•
Industry (Emergence Plan).
•
Agricultural development (Green Morocco Plan).
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Trade (Rawaj Plan).
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Energy (National Renewable Energies Strategy).
MEDZ also aims to play an upstream role in innovative projects by providing strategic oversight and
supporting the sponsors of original projects.
By dint of its remits and position, MEDZ operates throughout Morocco. It has built a number of highly
successful tourist complexes. In the area of offshoring and new technologies, it has constructed
business parks that have helped this activity take off in Morocco. It has also launched several projects to
create industrial parks. And it is developing innovative projects based on the concept of regional
competitiveness hubs, which, in liaison with the government and regional authorities, group together all the
players in a particular sector in the regions concerned (R&D, training, industry, government, etc.) in order to
improve their competitiveness.
For further information: www.medz.ma
About CDG Développement
The holding company CDG Développement is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion.
It was founded in 2004 to implement the CDG Group’s regional development strategy. CDG
Développement’s remit is to be a long-term operator and investor combining financial performance with
public utility and placing the country’s concerns at the centre of its activity.
With a presence throughout Morocco, CDG Développement provides high performance products and
services generating public progress in all its areas of activity. Through its different business lines and
subsidiaries, which operate in key sectors for Morocco’s development, the holding company contributes to
energising the national economy.
To foster sustainable regional development, CDG Développement makes available its know-how for the
creation of innovative development tools. Its subsidiaries are involved from the upstream design and
engineering phases right through to the development and management of services. Their size and
experience are assets that enable the holding company to position itself as a vital integrated regional player.
CDG Développement is organised around the following business lines:
•
Integrated urban planning and development.
•
Infrastructure.
•
Property promotion and development.
•
Regional authority services.
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Other services.
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Forestry.
For further information: www.cdgdev.ma
Press contacts:
EIB: Anne-Cécile Auguin, tel.: +352 621 36 19 48, email: a.auguin@eib.org
Website: www.eib.org/press - Press desk: +352 4379 21000 – press@eib.org
MEDZ: Abla Aouad, tel.: (+212) 537 57 77 91, email: abla.aouad@medz.ma