Meeting of the Board of Directors of Morocco’s National Ports Agency: 88.4 million tonnes of goods to be handled by 2023

On Wednesday 10 July 2024, the Board of Directors of Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) met under the chairmanship of Mr Nizar BARAKA, Minister for Infrastructure and Water, to review the ANP’s achievements over the past year.

During this meeting devoted to the year 2023, the Board noted the good performance of the financial indicators and the satisfactory progress of all the projects piloted by the ANP.

Mr Mustapha FARES, ANP Director General, indicated that during 2023, the national port activity continued to suffer the effects of the evolutions and events marking the international economic and geopolitical context.

Despite these challenges, the ports managed by the ANP handled 88.4 million tonnes of goods, an increase of 1.4% compared with 2022. However, this performance conceals a 9.7% decline over the first seven months of 2023, followed by an average recovery of 18.4% from August 2023.

In terms of sector regulation, the ANP has continued to integrate new port operators, notably through :

• the signing of the concession agreement for the construction and operation of terminals at the New Port of Safi ;
• the launch of a call for tenders for the granting of a concession to operate a quay at the port of Dakhla for the unloading of RSW vessels;
• the launch of an invitation to tender for a concession to operate a shipyard in the port of Essaouira;
• the launch of a call for expressions of interest for the concession to operate the new cruise terminal at the port of Casablanca; and
• continuing the process of awarding the concession for the new shipyard in the port of Casablanca.

With regard to the development and modernisation of port facilities, and in relation to the budget for the 2023 financial year of 833.7 million dirhams, investment commitments for this financial year reached 729.2 million dirhams, a commitment rate of 87.5%. Infrastructure development commitments reached 629.3 MDHS, a commitment rate of 93.9%.

As far as port authority missions are concerned, the ANP is continuing its approach aimed at adopting the best standards and best practices in this area, in particular by renewing the ISO 9001 version 2015 label for the Harbour Master’s Offices of the ports of Laâyoune and Tan-Tan and strengthening the maritime navigation assistance systems.

In terms of financial achievements, turnover continued to grow, reaching 2,512 million dirhams, an increase of 20.1%, added value reached 1.78 billion dirhams, an integration rate of 71%, and net profit reached 105.2 million dirhams, an increase of 123.2%.

At the end of the meeting, the Board of Directors adopted the resolutions submitted to it.