HIBAPRESS – MAP
The Spanish newspaper "La Razón" highlighted on Friday the acceleration of Morocco in implementing its maritime and port strategy, particularly through strengthening the link across the Strait of Gibraltar and launching direct shipping lines connecting the ports of Agadir and Dakhla with Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic space.
The newspaper explained that these trends fall within the framework of a dynamic aimed at strengthening the integration of national port infrastructure within international trade networks and better responding to the needs of Moroccan exporters. In this context, the Kingdom has launched the first phase of tenders related to the operation of shipping lines dedicated to the transport of passengers and goods across the Strait of Gibraltar, with the aim of strengthening and diversifying the transport offer between Morocco and Spain, according to the same source. After mentioning the strategic role played by the Strait of Gibraltar in human and commercial exchanges between Morocco and Europe, the newspaper pointed out that the "Marhaba" operation attracts about 3.7 million passengers and about 800,000 vehicles annually, which gives special importance to strengthening maritime capabilities, especially during the summer. "La Razón" added that the development of a national maritime fleet responds to the requirements of resilience, securing commercial flows, and strengthening the logistical sovereignty of the Kingdom, in a context where maritime transport secures more than 90 percent of global trade and about 95 percent of Moroccan external exchanges. Regarding the ports of Agadir and Dakhla, the newspaper highlighted that work is underway to launch new direct shipping lines connecting them with European, African, and American ports, explaining that these lines will enable Moroccan exporters to have smoother logistical services and more suited to the requirements of international trade. The newspaper concluded that the measures taken at the level of the Strait of Gibraltar and the ports of Agadir and Dakhla constitute the first practical translation of this strategy, which is based on the fluidity of exchanges, supporting exports, and strengthening the Kingdom's Atlantic positioning.
