Alstom, SNCF Moroccan rail contract closer -report

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Alstom <ALSO.PA> and French railway company SNCF are set to come closer to a contract worth around 2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) for a high-speed train link between Tangiers and Casablanca, a newspaper said.

French Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Idrac was set to sign a financing agreement during a meeting with Moroccan Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar on Friday, France’s La Tribune reported on Friday, citing sources it did not name.

Morocco and France had signed an agreement on the rail project last year to allow French companies to design, build, operate and maintain the train line.

Alstom was not immediately available for comment.

France planned to provide some 900 million euros towards helping to finance the project, La Tribune added. ($1=.8006 euro)