A Moroccan property developer is expanding its industrial zones to help more farmers process and sell their produce locally, in a move that could create thousands of jobs.
MEDZ will grow two of its key agro-industrial sites in the north and east of the country.
In the north, the company will expand its site in Loukkos by 50 hectares. The area is known for the large production of avocados and red fruits, with more than 70,000 tonnes produced each year. The goal is to process more of this locally instead of exporting it raw.
In the east, the Berkane hub will gain an extra 20 hectares. The focus there is on citrus and vegetable processing, linking local farmers more directly with industrial facilities.
MEDZ, which is part of Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion, is also rolling out what it calls a more “ready-to-use” model for investors. This includes shared services for testing and quality checks, as well as support from national agricultural bodies all in one place.
New zones will also offer ready-built factories, offices and warehouses, plus serviced plots for companies to set up quickly. Investors can also tap into state-backed funding schemes and investment incentives.
MEDZ says the two expansions represent around 2 billion dirhams in new investment and should create more than 6,000 jobs. That would take total employment across its industrial zones to nearly 40,000.
Today, MEDZ runs four agro-industrial hubs in Meknes, Berkane, Agadir and Larache, hosting about 350 companies and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
