by Matteo Meloni and Enrico Oliari –
DAKHLA (Morocco). An airport, a pulsating center, a city embraced on two sides by the ocean, unforgettable sunsets, excursions into the desert. No infrastructure, but full of potential and people willing to act: what the Kingdom of Morocco wants to do with Dakhla, in the south of the country, are not just temporary investments, but solid opportunities for companies to inside and outside, especially outside. “We aim to be Africa’s main entry point, we will build highway links, infrastructure and the largest port in West Africa, which, together with Tangier, will make our country the driving force of the continent all and the bridge that connects Europe. “. This is what Mounir Houari, general manager of the Regional Investment Center Dakhla – Oued Eddahab, explains to Geopolitical News, who emphasizes that “we have invested 40 billion dirhams (3 billion and 700 million euros) in renewable energy, because wind and the sun are our gold“.
– Why should a European entrepreneur, maybe an Italian one, invest in a place as special as Dakhla?
“It’s Morocco time. Brexit, the Abraham Agreement with Israel and the US, but also the good relations with the European Union have created a very favorable economic and political situation for us. Agreement with the United Kingdom in the agri-food sector, from Tel Aviv we have introduced new irrigation methods that allow us to take advantage of the desert land, an important fish industry that trade mainly to the EU and the US. We have focused heavily on university research and created an engineering and technology hub here in Dakhla“.
– If an Italian or German entrepreneur were to identify opportunities in Dakhla, what support would he receive from the institutions?
“First, organized and active board investment, then financial support that makes it interesting: non-paid contributions are expected according to the investment capital, from 5 to 10%, then another 3% if they are involved for co at least 30% % female employees, then another 3 percent on environmental sustainability projects and the same for local integration“.
– What are the development sectors?
“We have already talked about renewable energy, here there is sun and wind all year round. Then there is the tourism sector, with the ocean already popular with surfers today, trips into the desert with tourists, especially Northern Europeans, who come from all over the world. -world for environmental features: it must be said that we have an international airport with several aviation newspapers. An important activity is related to fishing and fish processing up to the finished product, in this case we also export worldwide“.
– However, if you allow us, this part of the Sahara is not recognized by all countries as an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco…
“Well, let’s put political questions aside. In addition to the recognition of the US and several European countries, more and more countries have opened consulates in Layoune and Dakhla in recent years. In this city alone there are 16 consulates, soon we will have the US consulate, which will bring the figure to 28 including those in Laayoune“.
– Other strengths?
“An important young workforce that we have invested in training, but also a guarantee of a safe and promising place“.
