Morocco: SMAP Expo Milan 2019 Receives 20,000 Visitors

SMAP Logo of 2018
SMAP Logo of 2018
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Morocco: SMAP Expo Milan 2019 Receives 20,000 Visitors

SMAP Logo of 2018
SMAP Logo of 2018

Moroccan real estate and lifestyle expo, SMAP Expo Milan 2019, received 20,000 people this year during its showing days between November 1 and 3, where 35 exhibitors showcased their projects on various Moroccan cities.

This year, the event dedicated a special celebration to the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region as a guest of honor.

The program also included seminars and interactive meetings on the legal framework of the real estate in Morocco, market conditions and issues of financing the acquisition of property, taxes and investment opportunities.

The exhibition aims to bring the real estate market closer to the Moroccan community in Italy and neighboring European countries, by showing comprehensive and carefully selected housing projects in various regions of Morocco.

It also includes areas for banks and financial companies specialized in financing real estate and insurance, as well as notaries and representatives of Moroccan public departments to enable visitors to complete their transactions.

The exhibition stems from the association of Moroccan immigrants to their motherland, trying to facilitate the acquisition of a secondary residence in Morocco.

It wants to bring all relevant interests in one place and provide clarity about the Moroccan market including counseling and awareness services, through the discussions organized on the sidelines.

The SMAP Group organized the exhibition, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning of the National Territory, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy (MAPNTUPHCP), as well as the Moroccan Federation of Real Estate Developers, as part of the tour of the Moroccan real estate and art of living “SMAP Roadshow 2019”

The expo was first held in Paris in June, and later in May 2020, the French capital will host the exhibition “SMAP Immo Paris” as the first leg of “SMAP Roadshow 2020”.



Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
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Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)

Mohammad Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at Kuwait’s Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), announced that Kuwait is actively working to boost investments in emerging sectors such as the management of government facilities, hospitals, and ports, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.

He added that his country is collaborating with Saudi Arabia on joint projects, notably the development of a railway linking the two nations.

Speaking at the 28th Annual Global Investment Conference in Riyadh, Yaqoub highlighted the 650-kilometer railway project, which is expected to cut travel time between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to under three hours. He clarified that this initiative is separate from the broader GCC railway network under development.

The official further emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to offering streamlined processes and incentives to attract foreign investment in critical sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, education, and technology.

Since January 2015, the Gulf country has attracted cumulative foreign investments valued at approximately 1.7 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($5.8 billion). During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, KDIPA reported foreign investment inflows amounting to 206.9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($672 million).

Yaqoub stressed that KDIPA is focused on creating an investor-friendly environment by offering flexible incentives to attract international companies. He noted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in this area and highlighted his country’s efforts to provide comparable benefits to foreign investors.

He also expressed optimism about the potential for growth in foreign investments in Kuwait, emphasizing their role in advancing economic development in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yaqoub also underscored the strong synergy between the Kuwaiti and Saudi markets, which he said will help accelerate economic progress across the region.