Moroccan engineering and consulting firm NOVEC has secured a place on the final shortlist for the project to develop the business plan of the “Aria” Industrial Zone in the Trarza region of Mauritania. Meanwhile, Tanger Med Engineering (TME) failed to advance to the next stage of the competition.
The selection followed a preliminary evaluation process involving forty candidates, including engineering consultancies and advisory firms from several countries. After assessment, only eight candidates were shortlisted for the final phase, among them NOVEC.
The project concerns the preparation of a comprehensive business plan for the Aria Industrial Zone, a strategic development that Mauritania considers key to strengthening its industrial attractiveness and attracting new investments through the establishment of a strategic vision, an economic model, and a development roadmap.
NOVEC’s qualification highlights the growing position of the company in engineering and consulting services across Morocco and Africa. Over recent years, the firm has built extensive experience in infrastructure, planning, territorial development, and strategic projects, while expanding its presence in several international markets through a range of studies and assignments.
In contrast, Tanger Med Engineering did not succeed in reaching the final stage despite its specialization in ports, logistics platforms, and industrial zones. The company presents itself as a joint engineering venture between the Tanger Med Group and NOVEC, bringing together a multidisciplinary team specialized in planning, design, and supervision of industrial, logistics, and port projects in Morocco and abroad.
The outcome of this selection process is particularly significant given the nature of the project, which is closely related to areas of expertise developed by TME, especially industrial zones and logistics infrastructure. However, international tenders of this kind are governed by highly specific technical and methodological criteria that vary according to project requirements and client expectations.
The participation of both NOVEC and TME also reflects the growing involvement of Moroccan expertise in development projects across Africa, amid the increasing presence of Moroccan firms in engineering, consulting, and strategic advisory services throughout the continent.
While NOVEC continues its journey toward the final award of the Mauritanian project, the results of this selection underscore the intensity of competition in the international consulting market, where specialized expertise, proposal quality, and professional references play a decisive role in determining outcomes.
The next phase is expected to identify the entity that will be entrusted with preparing the business plan for the Aria Industrial Zone, one of the projects Mauritania is relying on to support its economic and industrial development in the coming years.