King Mohammed VI of Morocco chaired a working session at the Royal Palace in Rabat to review the progress of the Nador West Mediterranean port project and the expansion of the Tangier Mediterranean port. The projects aim to enhance Morocco's port infrastructure and competitiveness. The Nador West Mediterranean port is expected to have an initial capacity of 3.5 million containers when its first phase is completed. The project includes industrial, logistics, and energy components.
The Nador West Mediterranean port project involves investments of 54 billion dirhams, combining public and private funding. The port will feature a fuel storage area with a potential capacity of 4 million cubic meters and a liquefied natural gas station that can process up to 5 billion cubic meters per year. The project is expected to create 1,400 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the near future. The port's industrial zone is currently operational, with one factory already in operation and three others under construction.
The project's development aligns with Morocco's strategy to create an effective port system that boosts the country's competitiveness. The vision aims to balance national growth and regional development by optimizing public investment, mobilizing private capital, and creating job opportunities. The project will have a positive impact on the local population and contribute to the country's economic growth.
The expansion of the Tangier Mediterranean port, which was also discussed during the meeting, will increase its capacity to 20 million containers, placing it among the top 10 ports globally. The project involves the construction of a new port, Tangier Mediterranean 3, with 1,200 meters of quay and an additional capacity of 4.5 million containers per year. The project has an investment envelope of approximately 8 billion dirhams.
A concession agreement has been signed with Maersk-APM, a global leader in maritime transport, to develop the new container terminal. The expansion project also includes the ongoing development of the passenger terminal and the international road transport terminal. The project will enhance the port's competitiveness and reinforce its position as a major hub in the region.
King Mohammed VI emphasized the importance of ensuring that the economic and social benefits of these projects are shared by all concerned regions and that they have a positive impact on local populations. The King called for the acceleration of training programs tailored to the needs of emerging activities to facilitate the professional integration of young people.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the head of the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency and the chairman of the Nador West Mediterranean port board of directors. They presented updates on the progress of the projects and the next phases of development. The projects are expected to be completed in the coming years, with the first phase of the Nador West Mediterranean port scheduled to be operational soon.
Key points
- The Nador West Mediterranean port project involves investments of 54 billion dirhams and is expected to create 1,400 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs.
- The expansion of the Tangier Mediterranean port will increase its capacity to 20 million containers, placing it among the top 10 ports globally.
- King Mohammed VI emphasized the importance of ensuring that the economic and social benefits of these projects are shared by all concerned regions.
