Morocco Plans $213 Million Farming Project in Western Sahara

File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Morocco Plans $213 Million Farming Project in Western Sahara

File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Morocco is seeking investors for a $213 million agriculture project in the disputed territory of Western Sahara irrigated by a wind-powered desalination plant.

The project aims to turn 52 square kilometers of unused land near the city of Dakhla into farms growing fruit, vegetables and animal feed, according to an Agriculture Ministry tender launched on Friday.

The project will be 77% state-funded and is part of a $7 billion development plan unrolled by Morocco in 2015 to upgrade Western Sahara's infrastructure, including the construction of a $1 billion port in Dakhla.

The wind-powered desalination plant, part of a wider series of projects aimed at countering water scarcity that has hit Morocco's agricultural output, was approved last year.



Riyadh Air Orders 60 Airbus A321neo Planes

Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
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Riyadh Air Orders 60 Airbus A321neo Planes

Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website

Saudi Arabia's newest airline Riyadh Air said on Wednesday it had placed an order for 60 Airbus narrowbody A321-family jets as it prepares to start operations in 2025.

The deal, signed at the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, brings to 132 the total number of jets ordered by the Saudi startup, which last year ordered 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 33 more.

The creation of Riyadh Air by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is part of a broader Saudi strategy to diversify its economy and boost tourism.

“This deal underlines the airline’s ambitious intentions in advance of next year’s launch, as it builds a comprehensive international network and establishes Riyadh as a major strategic global aviation hub,” Yasir Al Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chairman of Riyadh Air, said.

CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus Christian Scherer said: “The latest generation A321neo aircraft will bring exceptional efficiency to the airline's operations, concrete contributions to its decarbonization goals and comfort to its passengers. We look forward to working together to support the strong ambitions of Saudi aviation."