Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) and the French Development Agency (AFD) have reached a new milestone in their strategic partnership with the signing, on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, of a joint declaration covering a third financing package worth €100 million, aimed at developing and modernising Morocco’s port network.
The official ceremony was attended by Mr Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water; H.E. the Ambassador of France to Morocco; Mr Abdellatif Zaghnoun, Director General of the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Holdings (ANGSPE); the Director General of ANP; and the Director of AFD in Morocco.
This signing formalises the commitments made on 28 October 2024, during the state visit of the President of the French Republic to Morocco. It also reflects the two countries’ determination to strengthen their economic cooperation through the development of port infrastructure and the promotion of the ecological transition.
€100 Million in Financing for Four Priority Areas
Granted in the form of a 13-year concessional non-sovereign loan, without a state guarantee, this financing demonstrates AFD’s confidence in ANP’s financial strength, sound management practices and ability to independently implement its investment programmes.
This financial support will contribute to ANP’s 2023–2030 investment programme, which focuses on four main priorities: the rehabilitation and strengthening of port infrastructure; the development of renewable energy and non-conventional water desalination; the expansion and modernisation of fishing ports; and the decarbonisation of port activities and electrification of quays.
Defined and primarily financed by Morocco, the programme covers the modernisation and environmental transition of 11 ports along the Moroccan coastline, from Nador to Dakhla. Through this €100 million loan and the mobilisation of its technical expertise, France is supporting the Kingdom’s ambitions for sustainable port development.
The Southern Provinces at the Heart of Port Investments
A significant share of the programme is dedicated to port infrastructure in the Southern Provinces. These investments are part of the Kingdom’s vision to transform its Atlantic coastline into a strategic hub for economic integration, connectivity and outreach towards Africa, particularly through the Atlantic Initiative and the strengthening of South-South cooperation.
The development of these infrastructures is expected to improve port operational capacity, strengthen their role in maritime trade and support the economic development of the territories concerned.
Tangible Benefits for Coastal Communities
Beyond infrastructure modernisation, the programme is designed to deliver direct benefits to local communities and maritime professionals.
It includes the rehabilitation and reinforcement of port structures to protect them against climate-related hazards, thereby improving safety for fishermen and seafarers. The modernisation of fishing ports is also expected to support local economic activities and contribute to improving the incomes of coastal communities.
From an environmental perspective, investments will focus on improving waste and water management, protecting the marine environment, developing renewable energy and reducing the carbon footprint of port activities. The programme will also include initiatives to strengthen the skills and expertise of professionals in the port sector through training activities.
Through this third €100 million financing package, ANP and AFD are further consolidating their partnership around a shared ambition: to build a more modern, resilient and environmentally friendly Moroccan port network. This initiative aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s maritime competitiveness while positioning ports as key drivers of economic and social development for local territories and their populations.
