Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Launches Operations at First Container Terminal at Nador West Med Port

On High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched, Saturday in the commune of Iaazzanene (Nador Province), operations at the first container terminal at the Port of Nador West Med, marking the inaugural step in the operationalization of the Nador West Med industrial-port complex, which mobilized MAD 54 billion of public and private investment.

The launch by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of operations at the “East” container terminal of Nador West Med reflects the particular interest His Majesty the King, may God preserve Him, places on developing major national infrastructure, a priority for the Kingdom’s economic transformation and the emergence of new hubs of industrial, logistics, and economic growth, as well as the Sovereign’s willingness to provide the country with a diversified, competitive, and internationally-oriented port infrastructure.

With 1,520 linear meters of quay, a draft of 18 meters, and 70 hectares of yard space, the new terminal will have a capacity of 3.5 million containers by 2030. With investments totaling approximately MAD 5 billion, the “East” terminal has been conceded to a consortium comprising Marsa Maroc (Africa’s fourth-largest container terminal operator) and Terminal Investment Limited, a subsidiary of the MSC Group (the world’s leading container shipping line), which will operate and maintain the terminal for a period of 25 years.

The Nador West Med complex also includes a second container terminal, the “West” terminal, with a capacity of 1.8 million TEUs. Conceded to a consortium comprising Marsa Maroc and CMA CGM (the world’s third-largest container shipping line), this terminal, which requires investments of approximately MAD 3 billion, features 900 linear meters of quay and 38 hectares of yard space. It is scheduled to begin operations in April 2027, bringing the port’s total capacity to 5.3 million containers.

Nador West Med will also feature a general cargo terminal covering an area of 22 hectares with a capacity of 3 million tons (scheduled to begin operations in December 2028), as well as a bulk cargo terminal with a capacity of 7 million tons, scheduled for delivery in June 2027, and a roll on-roll off terminal with a capacity of 400,000 units and 380 meters of quay (delivered in September 2026).

It will also house a leading energy hub incorporating a liquefied natural gas terminal with a capacity of 5 billion m 3 (360 linear meters of quay) and a hydrocarbon terminal with a capacity of 25 million tons and three 125-meter quays (scheduled to begin operations in April 2027).

The Nador West Med Industrial-Port Complex, which will create 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the short term, particularly for youth, also houses an industrial and logistics hub covering an area of 700 hectares, attracting MAD 12 billion in private investment.

Infrastructure projects designed to improve access and connectivity will link this large-scale project to its surrounding area, including a 49-kilometer rail line between Selouane and Nador West Med, and a 105-kilometer highway connection from the city of Guercif.

Regarded as a powerful driver of wealth creation, job creation, and opportunities, this port infrastructure is intended to foster the emergence of a new hub for industrial, logistical, and economic growth by attracting productive investments, promoting the development of new activities, and creating new sources of employment.

Similarly, and in accordance with the High Royal Instructions, training programs tailored to the needs of emerging industries must be implemented to promote the professional integration of young people.

On this occasion, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched the first operation to unload a container from a commercial vessel at the “East” terminal.

Thus, the Nador West Med industrial-port complex fully embodies the Royal Strategic Vision, which aims to better leverage Morocco’s comparative advantages and enable the Kingdom to capture new shares of the international maritime trade market between the Mediterranean basin, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and to establish high-performance port hubs; drivers of regional development and key players in positioning the country as a leading logistics platform.

Nador West Med also extends and consolidates the momentum initiated by Tanger Med, as part of a strategy of complementarity aimed at equipping the Kingdom with a diversified, competitive, and internationally-oriented port infrastructure.

This ambition is also unfolding along the Atlantic coast through the Dakhla Atlantique project, set to bolster Morocco’s foothold in Africa and offer the countries of the Sahel privileged access to international markets.

Upon his arrival at the Nador West Med Industrial-Port Complex, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard that performed the honors, before being greeted by the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Public Performance, the Minister of Infrastructure, Water, and Forests, and the Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment, and Economic Inclusion.

HRH the Crown Prince was also greeted by the wali of the Oriental Region, governor of the Oujda-Angad prefecture, the president of the Regional Council, the governor of the province of Nador, the chairman of TMSA’s oversight board and Nador West Med’s board of administration, the director general of the National Agency for the Strategic Management of State Shareholdings, and the chairwoman of the executive board of the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development.

HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan was also greeted by the Managing Director of TMSA, the CEO of the National Ports Agency, the Director General of the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, the Managing Director of Nador West Med Port, the CEO of Marsa Maroc, President of the MSC/Terminal Investment Limited Group Diego Aponte, CEO of MSC/Terminal Investment Limited Ammar Kanaan, director for Africa-Terminal Investment Limited of MSC group David ElBez, the CEO of the Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM), as well as executives of Nador West Med.

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