€246m in funding secured for Morocco highways project

The planned route for the Guercif-Nador highway. (Image: Ministère de l’Equipement et de l’Eau)

A new highway project in Morocco has secured a total of €246 million in funding for its construction.

The Guercif-Nador highway project will run a total distance of 104km, connecting Guercif, Saka and Driouch to the new port of Nador on the west Mediterranean sea.

The project is expected to cost a total of 7.4 billion Moroccan Dirhams (€670 million) and will be split into three sections: a 36.5km section from Guercif to Saka; 40.5km from Saka to Driouch; 27km from Driouch to Nador West Med.

The African Development Bank will contribute €200 million to the project, with a further €46 million coming from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF).

The project is part of a drive to modernise Morocco’s transport infrastructure and related services to boost its logistics competitiveness.

The transport sector is one of the main drivers of Morocco’s economic growth, contributing 10% of government revenue and employing 5% of the working population.