The RSZZ region has implemented a strategy of development its strengths and potentials through structuring projects that are now its true economic leverage.

At the head of major structural projects in the region is that of the regeneration of the Bouregreg valley with a combined investment for the first two phases of nearly $ 4 billion.

Segmented into 6 phases, the Bouregreg Valley development project has several objectives:

• The development of the hinterland with its historical landmarks, allowing for the regeneration of the medinas of Rabat and of Salé;
• the creation of major works, including an Atlantic port, a river marina, the Oudayas tunnel, the new Moulay Al Hassan bridge and other river crossings;
• the completion of the tramway between Rabat and Salé;
• The renovation of cultural and recreational spaces as well as and residential, commercial and touristic zones.

As part of the National Initiative for Human Development, the project also provides for the creation of an Arts and Crafts City, which aims to ensure the renewal of craftsmanship through training related facilities. This city will also allow the incubation of niches dedicated to human resource development in traditional crafts, tourism, hospitality and services.

As a whole, this large-scale project will allow the creation of 30,000 permanent and stable jobs.

With regards to the first phase named 'Bab Al Bahr', involving a total investment of nearly 7 billion dirhams, it includes the following works:

• The implementation of the tramway between Rabat and Salé,the commissioning is scheduled for late 2010;

• the construction of the new Moulay Al Hassan bridge, launched in December 2007 by his Majesty the King, which will allow a navigability of the River as well as pedestrian and vehicle transit between the two banks;

• the digging of the Oudayas tunnel, which will decongest the existing Al Marca road, alongside the Oudayas Kasbah, which sees the transition of an average of 30,000 vehicles per day, of which 3,500 are heavy load trucks and coaches.

• the finalization of the marina, with a capacity of 350 and moorings that will accommodate pleasure boats with a beam of 2 to 4 meters and a length of up to 20 meters, Marina’s 400m shoreline is lined with spaces for restaurants, entertainment and residential hotels.

• 1,700 residential units,
• Three 3, 4 and 5 star hotel units
• real estate dedicated to the service sector on a floor area of 75,000m2
• an arts and crafts city in an area of 75,000m2 on the right bank of the Bouregreg river including buildings for artists’ residence, workshops, Venues for temporary or permanent exhibitions;
• a set of entertainment and leisure centres;
• public spaces, such as the Oudayas esplanade The Atlantic esplanade, the esplanade along the riverfront, ... the gardens,
• Various facilities such as an accompanying conference centre, a mosque ....

The second major project launched in the region is the” regeneration of Rabat’s corniche”, and notably its first phase “the Rabat corniche Development”, consisting of the development of the coastal area south of the capital, through the realization of a new centrality in the urban fabric and the emphasizing of the maritime facade.

Other structural projects in the region, the project “Plage des Nations” Beach Resort, a large tourist and residential complex, spread over 475 hectares and is built around a central golf club with two courses ending on the seafront overlooking the corniche;

It includes various areas:

• The residential area will include a total of 10,524 units, spread over 121 riads, 2300 villas with an area of between 300 and 1.000m² and nearly 8,000 apartments ranging in size from 80 to 150m²;
• The shopping and entertainment zone, with a total area of 144,000m²;
• The hotel zone, which will include a 200 room hotel / SPA / conference centre and an apartment-hotel with 350 rooms;
• A marina of 500 moorings, with tourist village and yacht club;
• Divers facilities: clinic, beach club, multi-sports club, club house, international school,...

For its part, conceived as an instrument for development of the territory and planned urbanization, TAMESNA, future town of 250,000 inhabitants at 30 minutes from Rabat, will house a diverse population promoting social diversity.

Covering a total area of 860 hectares, this town will see the construction of 48.000 mid-range and luxury units for social housing and 1400 economic villas. More than 120 communal amenities will be realised for it as well as large-scale amenities such as: a University, a hospital, a sports complex, an industrial and business zone, a central park and a recreational zone.

For its part, the new urban centre RIAD AL ANDALUSIA, currently underway in Rabat, is planning the creation of a central esplanade of 2.5 hectares, bordered by a promenade connecting the following facilities:

• A recreation centre in an area of 4,650 m², including a bowling alley, ice rink and sports centre;
• One cinema complex on 4.650m ²;
• One commercial gallery on 4.300 m ²;
• One tourist facility of 4.300m ², among which an apartment-hotel and a room of congress;
• Various other public facilities.

Furthermore, aware of the inadequacy of the reception spaces in the region, the authorities have undertaken an extensive program of development of new industrial parks and support structures and support projects, with the aim of attracting national and international investment.

In this regard, the Ain Johra industrial park, located 50 km from Rabat in the direction of Khemisset, will provide in the medium term an area of 200 hectares. The first phase covers 30 hectares and has just welcomed its first unit, namely ZODIAC AEROSPACE Morocco, working in the aerospace sector and which has just started production in June 2010.

Sa capacité d’accueil (1.500 entreprises),  le nombre d’emplois qui y sera créé (72.000) et sa proximité des grands axes autoroutiers confèreront à Ain Johra une envergure internationale. En outre, la particularité de ce parc réside dans le fait qu’il contiendra un parc de TIR, un parc logistique, des espaces d’accompagnement et des structures répondant aux standards internationaux.

Finally, TECHNOPOLIS, a platform dedicated to the creation, incubation and promotion of innovative projects with strong potential, will eventually offer 330,000m² of office space for offshoring activity, of which 44,000 is delivered in September 2008 and 23,500 to be delivered late 2010.

Thus Technopolis opens its doors to any enterprise undertaking activities related to the Nearshoring and achieving at least 70% of its turnover from exports, from the third year following the beginning of its activity or its installation at the park.

Today, Technopolis Park hosts about 20 units in the skills offshoring domain, which include:

• ECONOCOM, French subsidiary of ECONOCOM specializing in outsourcing that has recruited one hundred employees by the end of 2010;

• SOFRECOM SERVICES MAROCCO, which is developing a centre for services and software engineering, and whose main clients are: ANRT, Maroc Telecom and France Telecom-Orange;

• DEVOTEAM MAROCCO, French subsidiary of the No. 1 Company in Europe in the outsourcing of telecoms activities, primarily for banking / finance / insurance, which currently employs 200 people;

• CEGEDIM ACTIV Développement Offshore Maroc is a personal insurance software publishing research and development centre, whose main customers are the NSSF, the CNOPS and ANAM;

• GENPACT, a global leader in the provision of company management services, has opened here the first BPO centre in Morocco, which has created 100 jobs the first year and expects to create 300 to 400 during the 2-3 years following its installation;

• LOGICA NORTH AFRICA, whose business includes consulting, systems integration and business process outsourcing and IT and currently employs over 150 people;

• ALYOTECH MAROC, a subsidiary of the European technology consulting group, put in place a platform for offshoring based in Rabat and dedicated to consulting, development and information systems engineering. The new Moroccan subsidiary will complement, an internationalization device built around Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada and currently employs 130 people

(For more information: go to the Technopolis website : www.technopolis.ma )