The inauguration of this industrial center is consistent not only with the Europac, Portugal, company strategy, but also with a business model based on the integration of activities, geographical proximity, and the optimization of logistical and commercial synergies. This factory, which represents an investment of EUR 30 million and will create 114 direct jobs and 570 indirect jobs when fully operational, has a maximum installed capacity of 100 million m2 of corrugated board a year, which will be developed as the market grows.

 

These figures make the Tangier Factory the largest investment that the group has made since 2010, it's first outside of Europe and the first greenfield site. According to company representatve José Miguel Isidro, Morocco is an important market for the company for several reasons. 'The GDP growth rate in Morocco is estimated to be 5% in 2016, a figure much higher than the European average, and 50% of Moroccan GDP comes from the industrial and agribusiness sectors, sectors where the majority of our current packaging customers are concentrated ' noted the president.

Europac's activity in Morocco dates back to May 2013 when a heavy duty packaging workshop was commissioned to provide services to Renault, one of our major customers in France. This was the foundation stone of an industrial project whose major milestone is the launch of Europac Packaging Med; the aim is to strengthen activity in the industrial sector, expand the services offered to the automotive industry and its ancillary services, and address the strategic agribusiness sector.

Regarding the agribusiness sector, the Plan Maroc Vert is highlighted. It is promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries of Morocco, an ambitious strategy to increase the competitiveness of agriculture and make it an engine of social and economic development for the country. The plan includes the conversion of around one million hectares of cereal crops into fruit and vegetable plantations.

According to Carlos Larriba, Director of Europac Packaging Division, "Our goal is to position ourselves as the packaging partner in the customer's supply chain. Our strategy is based on providing value through a proactive policy of developing logistical services, structural and graphic design, innovation in new types of packaging and improving existing ones. This strategy is what will allow us to achieve our goal."

"It is not just about making boxes, but it is about adding value to the customer in all the processes and applications related to them. In short, we provide solutions to help our customers sell more and sell better, turning their business challenges into business opportunities," added Larriba.

Moreover, the factory is 20 km from the Tangier Med Port, a reference port in the Mediterranean - final destination for imported paper reels and starting point for the export of finished Moroccan products. Tangier Free Zone, another 20 kilometers from the factory, is the free trade area between Morocco and the European Union, and a catalyst for economic activity. All this, together with its location between the cities of Tangier and Tetouan, should represent a competitive advantage for installation.

Finally, José Miguel Isidro noted that he hopes the project will help strengthen the economical, business and cultural ties between Morocco and Spain: "Trade relations will shorten the distance between the two Mediterranean shores and will allow us to get to know our respective cultures and traditions better, a prerequisite for mutual respect and the economical and social prosperity of our countries," noted José Miguel Isidro.