Nizar Baraka: Morocco Has Made Port Development a Strategic Lever for Growth and Regional Integration

Speaking at the opening of the 6th edition of the Mediterranean Days of Coastal and Port Engineering (PIANC MedDays 2025), the minister stated that major projects such as Nador West Med, Dakhla Atlantique, and the expansion of the Tanger Med and Casablanca ports clearly illustrate the national ambition to position the Kingdom as a leading port hub on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. These projects, he noted, are not merely feats of engineering but symbols of a collective will toward modernization, openness, performance, and sustainability.

Baraka added that these days have become a key event on the Mediterranean port and maritime engineering calendar, and hosting them in Tangier reflects Morocco’s strong commitment to excellence, regional cooperation, and innovation in the port and maritime sectors.

Over the next two days, the event will offer participants a platform to discuss and exchange ideas on the main challenges facing this vital sector, focusing on four central priorities: energy and ecological transition, adapting port and maritime infrastructure to the effects of climate change, integrating digital technology and artificial intelligence into port planning, management, maintenance, and operations, and improving safety and operational performance at maritime sites and structures.

The minister emphasized that ports can no longer be seen merely as transit points but must become active players in decarbonization and in the responsible management of marine and coastal environments. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and coastal erosion, he said, call for innovative and proactive engineering to ensure port infrastructure resilience against natural risks.

He also highlighted that the integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence into port operations marks a strategic turning point toward greater efficiency, service quality, and competitiveness. The continuity of port operations, he explained, depends on robust systems, effective emergency plans, and durable infrastructure.

“Today more than ever, port and maritime engineering must stand as a source of sustainable solutions, reconciling economic efficiency, operational safety, and respect for marine and coastal environments,” he said.

Baraka expressed confidence that the high-quality interventions and exchanges taking place during the event would enrich collective reflection and open new avenues for cooperation and innovation, allowing participants to leave with new ideas, innovative approaches, and operational strategies that enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of port and maritime projects.

He invited participants to take advantage of these days of exchange and reflection to build new collaborations, confront ideas, and strengthen bridges between disciplines, institutions, countries, and sectors in order to advance the science and practice of port and maritime engineering.

Co-organized by the Moroccan Association for Port and Maritime Engineering (AMIPM) and the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC International), under the auspices of the Ministry of Equipment and Water, this event—held for the first time in Morocco and in Africa—aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the port and maritime fields, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage innovation for the sustainable management of infrastructure in the face of climate change challenges.

In parallel, the third edition of “Infra Day,” organized by the National Ports Agency, is highlighting major national port projects, including the Casablanca Port, Dakhla Atlantique Port, and Nador West Med Port.

This sixth edition, held over two days, reaffirms Morocco’s role as a key player in Mediterranean and international cooperation, committed to achieving sustainable, innovative, and resilient port and maritime development.

Editorial team/le7tv