The Investment Facility for Employment (IFE), a subsidiary of the German Development Bank (KfW), approved a grant worth 37.58 Mln MAD for the EuroMed University of Fez (UEMF) to implement its new “Usine Ecole Pilote 4.0” project, on Tuesday in Fez.
In this first project co-financed by IFE in Morocco to create sustainable, quality jobs for the next generation of industry known as “Industry 4.0,” at a total cost of 53.2 Mln MAD, IFE will contribute 70% of the costs with 30% funded by UEMF.
The initiative is part of the second phase of the Fes Smart Factory project, led by UEMF in partnership with several national and regional institutions.
The new training center scheduled to be operational by September 2026 is intended to support the digital transformation of Morocco’s industrial sector.
It will have an initial capacity of 240 trainees per year, with a one-year diploma course (Professional degree) in vocational training or higher education courses at higher technician level (Bac + 2).
IFE representative Hicham Chahir and UEMF President Mostapha Bousmina signed the agreement during a ceremony attended by representatives of local authorities and the Fes-Meknes Regional Council, the German Embassy in Rabat, the Director of the KfW office in Morocco and CGEM Fes-Meknes.
IFE’s first call for project proposals in Morocco in 2023 was a notable success, with several shortlisted projects now in the final due diligence phase. New financing grants are expected to be signed in September.
IFE has just closed a second call for projects that ran from May 15 to July 1, 2024, and the evaluation process is currently underway.