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afrol News, 31 July - The Moroccan government has decided to start the construction of a new Mediterranean harbour complex at the Strait of Gibraltar by next year. The harbour complex is to become a new outlet for the northern free trade zone and its industrial and commercial complexes. The Moroccan King himself, Mohammed VI, accompanied by several members of the government and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, yesterday visited the site where the construction works were to begin. The site is located in the Mediterranean community of Oued R'mel (close to Tétouan), within the free trade zone of northern Morocco. According to MAP - a Moroccan news agency close to the royal house - the major project is to include a deep water port that will be able to handle container transports, trade in cereals, other commercial transport and passenger traffic. Principally, the harbour is to serve the 98 hectare big free trade zone of Oued R'mel with its growing commercial activities. The construction of the new harbour complex is estimated to employ some 2,500 construction workers. When the site is fully operative, however, it is expected to create 6,000 new jobs. At the same time, the complex will provide an extra outlet for the export processing zone of Tangier-Tétouan and the 125 hectares large commercial duty free zone in Fnideq. The northern part of Morocco, with its closeness to Europe is with this establishing itself as the country's principal industrial zone and export producer. According to MAP, the project also includes connecting infrastructure between the northern highway (Rabat-Tangier), the harbour complex and the free trade zones. A future connection of railcars was to unite the commercial zone with the port, in addition to a railway connection between Tangier, the harbour complex and the free trade zones. The large infrastructure project is co-financed by the United Arab Emirates, the Moroccan government and private capital. Sources: Based on MAP, Moroccan govt and afrol archives
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