The project to connect Morocco to Spain by sea is about to become a reality. The European Union has granted funding of 2.3 million euros to Madrid to study the feasibility of this project. The objective is to build an undersea tunnel to create a high-speed rail network between the two countries.
Moroccan and Spanish officials have confirmed their commitment to the tunnel project linking Morocco to Spain, stressing its strategic importance for both countries and the European and African continents.
During a meeting with his Spanish counterpart last February, the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, stressed that ” the geographical proximity and the economic partnerships between the two countries offer new prospects for this partnership let us build the future of it through a series of projects, such as the conditional continental connection between the two countries “.
In detail, this project benefits from the support of the European Union, the United Kingdom, China and the United States, which see in it the opportunity to strengthen their relations with Africa and Europe. It is also attracting interest from Asian countries such as Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Various international financing institutions, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Arab Bank, are also supporting this project.
In addition to its economic benefits, this project promotes the tripartite candidacy of Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host the Football World Cup in 2030, said Mohamed Charqui, economic expert, noting that the construction of this tunnel will strengthen the economic position of the city of Tangier as a continental and international pole.
Also, the connection between Spain and Morocco will reduce transport and logistics costs, thus promoting trade. It will also facilitate the movement of people, in particular the Moroccan community residing abroad. On the social level, this project will strengthen the links between the peoples of the African and European continents, by extending the family, historical and scientific ties that unite them.
In a statement to MoroccoLatestNewsMohamed Charqui, an economic expert, pointed out that the volume of trade between Spain and Morocco amounted to 20 billion euros last year, and the construction of this colossal project will undoubtedly lead to a strong resumption of trade between the two countries.