Leila Benali: Morocco strongly committed to making its coastline a space of sustainability and shared prosperity

Speaking at the opening of the 6th edition of the Mediterranean Days of Coastal and Port Engineering (PIANC MedDays 2025), the minister reaffirmed Morocco’s firm commitment to promoting a sustainable and resilient coastline that reconciles economic development, social cohesion, and environmental preservation.

Ms. Benali stated that Morocco’s efforts reflect the national will to anticipate, plan, and act so that the country’s coastline remains a space of innovation and shared prosperity. She noted that Morocco has made decisive progress in implementing its national policy for the integrated and sustainable management of the coastline, through Law 81-12 on the coastline and the adoption of the National Coastal Plan (PNL) in 2022.

She further highlighted significant achievements, including the adoption of the decree regulating sand and dune material exploitation, the decree setting limit values for liquid discharges into the coastal environment and its related fee system, as well as the preparation of three other implementation texts on camper van activities, beach traffic, and water sports regulation. She emphasized that these instruments aim to strengthen the governance of coastal areas, ensure a balanced use of resources, and enhance the resilience of territories facing climate pressures.

The minister also recalled that, on a territorial level, the PNL is implemented through Regional Coastal Plans (SRL), which translate national guidelines into regional strategies adapted to each maritime façade. She specified that five SRLs are currently being developed, covering the regions of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, and Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, while the remaining four regions (Oriental, Casablanca-Settat, Souss-Massa, and Marrakech-Safi) will be launched in 2026.

She explained that the objective is to accelerate the completion and adoption of all SRLs through a participatory and coordinated approach with regional authorities, ensuring integrated and resilient planning of the national coastline.

The minister also emphasized that, under the Strategic Atlantic Corridor initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is firmly committed to making the Atlantic Ocean a space for structured South-South cooperation, serving shared development and regional integration.

She stressed that “this is not only a logistical, energy, or digital corridor, but a human one connecting the peoples of two continents, designed to help unlock the potential of the world’s last major reservoir of productive capacity, namely Africa.”

Ms. Benali pointed out that this ambitious Royal vision is accompanied by the launch of the OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, and Certification), an innovative initiative aimed at facilitating the transport and valorization of energy molecules, green electricity, and strategic mineral products. She noted that this corridor will be supported by a strong ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework, ensuring compliance with sustainability, transparency, and environmental responsibility principles.

She underlined the need to develop resilient and sustainable infrastructures to produce, transport, and certify mining and other resources transiting through this corridor in Morocco, noting that the Nador West Med project, located on the country’s Mediterranean coast, fully embodies this ambition and stands as a key strategic lever for integrated and sustainable development.

“Nador West Med is much more than a port; it is a genuine growth and innovation hub, a model of synergy between economic development, environmental protection, and regional inclusion,” she said.

The minister also noted that the Dakhla Atlantic Port is much more than a simple port, as it is designed as a port, industrial, and logistics complex that aligns perfectly with the Royal vision for a resilient, decarbonized economy open to its regional and international environment. She pointed out that it represents a cornerstone in this vision of the Atlantic Corridor.

She added that this dynamism comes with growing pressures such as urbanization, industrialization, resource exploitation, and the direct impacts of climate change, stressing that this event serves as an opportunity for collective reflection on coastal and port engineering, which occupies a strategic role.

Ms. Benali noted that innovation, particularly through smart technologies and digital modeling, represents a key lever for addressing these challenges, stating that “resilience cannot be declared; it must be built collectively, with rigor, science, and vision.”

“It is in this spirit that Morocco acts to ensure that its shores remain both an engine of prosperity, a living space, and a symbol of sustainability for present and future generations,” she emphasized.

Co-organized by the Moroccan Association of Port and Maritime Engineering (AMIPM) and the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC International), under the aegis 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 sectors, promote the exchange of expertise, and encourage innovation for sustainable infrastructure management in the face of climate change challenges.

Editorial team/le7tv