France agrees 625 mln eur loan to fund Morocco TGV

PARIS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Alstom (ALSO.PA) and French rail operator SNCF moved a step closer to contracts for a high-speed train link between Tangiers and Casablanca, after France agreed on a loan to Morocco to help finance the project.

French Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Idrac signed for the 625 million euro ($792.8 million) loan, which will finance rolling stock and equipment for the Tangiers-Casablanca link, during a meeting on Friday with Moroccan Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, France's foreign trade ministry said in a statement.

Morocco and France had already signed an agreement on the 500 km project last year, which is worth around 2 billion euros according to press reports, allowing French companies to design, build, operate and maintain the line.

Alstom was not immediately available for comment. ($1=.7883 Euro) (Reporting by Jean-Michel Belot, writing by Helen Massy-Beresford)