Tanger Med Zones Awarded by the UN for Digital Innovation
Tanger Med Zones Awarded UNCTAD Investment Promotion Prize
Tanger Med Zones received one of the five Investment Promotion Awards presented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Doha, Qatar. This prestigious award recognizes its contribution to the establishment of the engineering center of the French group Alten at Tétouan Shore, located in Martil, near Tétouan. It highlights the role of Moroccan industrial and digital platforms in attracting international investments and developing high-value-added activities.
Tanger Med Zones Recognized Among 48 International Applicants
UNCTAD honored Tanger Med Zones for its ability to attract and facilitate investments in digital services and solutions, particularly through the establishment of Alten Delivery Center Maroc at Tétouan Shore. The Moroccan platform stood out among 48 applications submitted by organizations from 40 countries. The jury commended the welcoming environment for qualified engineering activities and digital services, along with the existence of a conducive investment framework and a one-stop shop designed to simplify administrative procedures for investors.
Four other organizations also received recognition during this edition: the Caribbean Export Promotion Agency, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Invest Korea, and Invest Qatar. Consequently, Tanger Med Zones is the only economic zone to be included among the five winners in this edition focused on investment in the digital economy.
Alten Maroc Aims for 3,300 Employees by 2027
The establishment of Alten at Tétouan Shore is part of the French group’s expansion of activities in Morocco. Since entering the Kingdom in 2008 with its facility in Fès, Alten Delivery Center Maroc currently employs over 2,200 individuals spread across Fès, Rabat, Casablanca, and Tétouan, with engineers making up around 80% of the workforce.
The company aims to increase its workforce to 3,300 employees by 2027, translating to the creation of 1,100 additional positions, which would represent a 50% increase from the currently announced staffing levels.
Opened on September 19, 2022, the Tétouan Shore center is Alten’s fourth establishment in Morocco, situated in a park dedicated primarily to outsourcing services, while the Fès site is located within Fès Shore on the road to Sidi Hrazem.
The Moroccan branch provides engineering, applied research, and IT services to international clients operating across various strategic sectors, including automotive, rail, aerospace, digital, and telecommunications.
Alten Strengthens Its Presence in International Engineering
Founded in 1988 by Simon Azoulay, who hails from Rabat, Alten has developed into an international player in engineering and technology consulting. By the end of 2025, the group employed 51,000 engineers, including 11,800 in France and 39,200 abroad.
Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, the group reported a revenue of €4.1 billion in 2025, equivalent to approximately 44.88 billion dirhams, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 1.1%. Its net income attributable to the group stood at €106.9 million, or nearly 1.17 billion dirhams, down 42.6%.
In this context, Morocco represents an important operational base for its engineering and technology services activities. The development of local teams addresses the needs of international clients while enhancing the national skill set in specialized professions.
Digital Economy at the Heart of UNCTAD Awards
The UNCTAD Investment Promotion Awards, presented annually since 2002, recognize agencies and organizations that facilitate investments and improve conditions for businesses. The 2026 edition focused on investment in the digital economy.
The award ceremony took place at the opening of the ninth Global Investment Forum, held in Doha from October 25 to 27, 2026. This international event brings together public and private stakeholders to address investment, development, and economic transformation issues.
According to data presented by UNCTAD, investments in new projects related to the digital economy reached $360 billion in 2024, approximately 3.528 trillion dirhams. This amount nearly triples the level recorded in 2020. Over the five years ending in 2024, Southern economies captured 30% of these inflows.
The World Investment Report 2026 also indicates that Foreign Direct Investment reached $1.6 trillion in 2025, about 15.68 trillion dirhams. Twenty economies accounted for more than 80% of these funds, underscoring the strong geographical concentration of international investments.
Recognizing Morocco’s Attractiveness
The award granted to Tanger Med Zones highlights the importance of welcoming infrastructure, administrative simplification, and specialized ecosystems in the decision-making processes of international companies looking to establish operations.
Through Tétouan Shore and the activities of Alten Delivery Center Maroc, the Kingdom is solidifying its position in digital services, engineering, and technology professions geared towards international markets. Alten Morocco’s goal of expanding its workforce to 3,300 employees by 2027 also illustrates the potential growth associated with these activities.
Beyond the accolade, this award serves as an international validation of the efforts made to attract high-value-added investments and bolster Morocco’s position in global service and engineering chains.
