Morocco’s Nouaceur province is expanding its industrial footprint with the launch of a second Industrial Acceleration Zone (ZAI), a sweeping 476-hectare development in the commune of Ouled Saleh that is set to become one of the country’s largest and most strategically positioned economic hubs.
The project was formally set in motion this week, with the signing of a multi-party partnership agreement. The ceremony brought together top government figures, including the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Industry and Trade, the wali and president of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, the governor of Nouaceur, and the heads of the Regional Urban Agency, the Regional Investment Center, and the Al Omrane Holding Group. The breadth of institutional involvement underscores the national significance attached to the initiative.
When fully operational, the Ouled Saleh zone will rank as the fourth largest ZAI in the kingdom, offering a purpose-built environment designed to attract both domestic and international investors. Its planners envision an integrated industrial ecosystem capable of generating sustained economic activity and creating substantial employment opportunities in the region.
Location is among the project’s greatest assets. The site sits in close proximity to Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco’s primary aviation gateway, and enjoys direct connectivity to the A1 motorway linking Tangier to Safi and the A3 connecting Casablanca to Agadir via Marrakech. Additional access routes through the Bouskoura Sud interchange and the Victoria bypass further reinforce the zone’s logistics credentials.
The partnership agreement also mandates comprehensive land, urban planning, technical, and financial studies to develop a full site master plan and a robust business model. These preparatory steps will define infrastructure standards, service offerings, and a viable investment framework aligned with international benchmarks.
Authorities and partners frame the Ouled Saleh ZAI as a cornerstone of Morocco’s advanced regionalization strategy, one that places regional councils at the center of development policy. By positioning Nouaceur as a premier industrial and logistics hub within the Casablanca-Settat region, the project aims to deliver measurable economic and social impact while reinforcing the area’s competitiveness on the national and continental stage.
