The Marchica Lagoon enhancement project has reached a decisive new milestone with the approval of a budget allocation of 900 million dirhams for the period 2026-2027. This decision was formalized during the board meeting of the Agency for the Development of the Marchica Lagoon Site (AASLM), held Wednesday in Rabat under the presidency of Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance.
This investment aims to accelerate the implementation of structuring projects, enhance the territorial attractiveness of Nador, and reinforce a sustainable, inclusive development model open to private investment. The 2026-2027 investment program will be jointly financed by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Structuring Projects with High Territorial Impact
According to established guidelines, this budget will be primarily allocated to projects with significant economic, environmental, and social impact. The objective is to sustainably enhance the territory’s attractiveness while emphasizing the preservation of the environment and the socio-economic inclusion of local populations.
The program notably includes the deployment of projects aimed at stimulating the economic, urban, and tourism ecosystem of the region, as well as improving infrastructure and connectivity in its various forms, whether territorial, logistical, or digital. These actions are designed to support the competitiveness of the region and increase its visibility at both national and international levels.
Strengthened Governance and Financial Restructuring
The board also praised the restructuring efforts undertaken by the Marchica Agency over the past two years, along with the significant efforts made to enhance the principles of transparency and good governance. It urged the Agency to continue on this path and to finalize, in accordance with outlined directions, the scheduled projects by 2026, particularly those concerning strategic repositioning and reevaluation of the institutional model.
Regarding Marchica Med, the operational subsidiary of the Agency, the board also commended the notable progress made in terms of account rectification and financial restructuring, contributing to better viability for the overall project.
Increased Private Investment Momentum
Finally, the board took note of the progress outlined in the Medium-Term Plan 2025–2032, which aims to energize the development of the Atalayoun City through increased, transparent, and responsible private sector participation. In 2025, concrete advancements were recorded with the mobilization of private investors around three large-scale real estate projects, representing a total investment of approximately 1.4 billion dirhams.
These achievements pave the way for a first positive financial result by 2026, marking a clear departure from past performances and confirming the gradual escalation of the Marchica project as a lever for sustainable economic and environmental development for the region.