For this purpose, HM king Mohammed VI appointed on Monday Said Ibrahimi managing director of a new company in charge developing and managing the future Casablanca financial hub, said a statement of the king's office.

The monarch thus entrusted Ibrahimi, who has been treasurer-general of the kingdom, with the job of setting up the infrastructures necessary for the promotion of this project designed to attract international investors.

This project mainly aims at making Casablanca an international financial centre, with a view to enhancing its development and economic potential, and preserving its position as a major regional capital.

The statement also reported that the king stressed the need to integrate this project into a comprehensive vision, taking into consideration all its components in terms of urban design, infrastructures, equipment, legal framework and human resources training.

He also underlined the necessity of implementing management techniques and methods appropriate to an international financial centre.

The sovereign also appointed Noureddine Bensouda as treasurer-general of the kingdom, to replace Said Ibrahimi. Bensouda has been the managing director of the tax office.

King Mohammed VI thus held a meeting, on Monday in his palace in Casablanca, with the two men, in the presence of the country's finance minister and the central bank's governor.