France’s top sports retailer, Decathlon, will open 26 new stores in Morocco. The announcement was made on July 4, 2016, by the firm’s president, Sanchez de Borja, on the sidelines of the presentation of the new plan for investment reform in the Cherifian kingdom.

In respect to the investment contract it signed with Moroccan authorities, Decathlon will implement a major development plan for its activities in the kingdom.

This plan includes new stores, the expansion of its warehouse in the Tangiers free zone, and the reinforcement of the firm’s supply chain in Africa and Europe. Total investment for the project is 163 million dirham ($16.6 million).

Decathlon also plans to considerably develop local sourcing for its sporting goods. This should boost its earnings by about 2 billion dirham ($204 million).

Overall, the French firm through these investments plans to generate 11,000 new direct and indirect jobs.

Presently, Decathlon has in Morocco four stores and two logistics platforms.