The naval sector is emerging as a critical vector for industrial sovereignty and economic growth in Morocco, according to experts gathered at the Sea Forum in El Jadida on May 9th.
During the « Trade » workshop of this 8th edition, Afaf Saidi, director at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, highlighted the Kingdom’s strengths in this domain: a solid industrial foundation, recognized expertise, and an ecosystem structured around a labeled naval cluster bringing together industrialists, training centers, and research poles.
Recognized as a priority sector in the Investment Charter, the Moroccan naval industry benefits from an ambitious 2030 master plan projecting 4.5 billion dirhams in investments, creating 5,500 to 8,000 direct jobs, and contributing an additional 1.5 billion dirhams to the GDP. This roadmap revolves around four strategic axes: naval repair and maintenance, ship construction (under 120 meters), offshore platform development, and national fleet renewal.
Kamal Lakhmas, central director of the Tanger Med port, shed light on the crucial importance of this infrastructure for Morocco’s logistical competitiveness. A passage point for over 100,000 ships annually crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, Tanger Med now represents a critical link in approximately 20% of global maritime trade. The port complex also distinguishes itself through its advances in energy transition and eco-responsibility, with its integrated industrial zones hosting over 1,400 companies generating 140,000 direct jobs.
Nisrine Iouzzi, director of the Dakhla Atlantic Port Development, discussed the strategic dimension of this project within the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. She highlighted an approach based on regional cooperation, solidarity, and shared prosperity, while emphasizing the decisive impact of port infrastructures on the competitiveness of Moroccan enterprises.
Held under the theme « The Sea, Future of the Earth », the Forum continues until May 11th, bringing together experts, researchers, artists, institutions, NGOs, and companies around contemporary maritime and environmental challenges.
