King Mohammed VI’s inauguration of the new Casablanca port marks a bold step in Morocco’s Royal Atlantic Vision,positioning the Kingdom as a vital hub for trade,security,and investment between Africa and Europe,said on Monday International Business Times in its UK edition.
The new Casablanca port complex marks a significant milestone in the 2023 Royal Atlantic Vision and shows Morocco’s growing maritime role in global trade and regional security,added the digital publication.
The Atlantic Vision,encompassing the Casablanca shipyards,aims to establish the country as an attractive hub for investment,tourism,and trade to and from the African continent under the AfCFTA,underlined Ibusiness Times.
A French company secured the first contract to equip the Casablanca facility,while the French Naval Group launched a new cooperation initiative with Morocco,showing how the port is already positioning itself internationally. The new venture creates many possibilities for regional development and forecasts Morocco’s rise as a maritime nation.
The Casablanca port complex is part of a much broader effort to modernize and expand Morocco’s port infrastructure,said the business media platform,noting that the Casablanca project alone represents an investment of over $554 million,covering the construction of a new dry-dock shipyard,a cruise terminal,an administrative complex to centralize key stakeholders,and the development of a fishing port.
The dry-dock will be capable of hosting ships up to 220m long and 32m wide,with a lifting platform,deep dock,embankments,and 660m of quays. This project supports the development of a national naval industry,a central tenet of the Royal Atlantic Vision. Across Morocco,similar projects are underway,including the major container port of Tanger-Med,as well as the ports of Nador-West and Dakhla Atlantique.
Under King Mohammed VI’s leadership,Morocco is rapidly advancing as an Atlantic power,underlined IBusiness Times,saying that the Kingdom is positioning itself at the heart of future Europe–Africa–Atlantic supply chains,attracting tourism and investment while fostering reliable stability.
The new Casablanca complex reflects Morocco’s vision of maritime security and naval development aspirations. The country is integrating its naval infrastructure with broader trade and security strategies,recognizing the importance of resilient trade routes.
While the global economy has suffered repeated disruptions due to supply chain constraints,Morocco envisions a future in which regional trade security will not be a concern,said the digital publication,noting that the shipyards will support the expansion of the country’s naval capabilities through construction,maintenance,logistics,and technology transfer.
According to IBusiness Times,the Royal Atlantic Vision presents many opportunities for increased cooperation and investment. The UK and Morocco are two maritime Nations with great synergies and potential. The British Royal Navy,a long-time ally of Morocco,could benefit greatly from the new port infrastructure.
The June 2025 Strategic Dialogue resulted in the UK-Morocco Joint Communique,which called for increased defense cooperation,including investment and industrial development,leveraging UK defense expertise.
The EU and the UK,as they seek to diversify their transatlantic relationships,will also find fresh economic opportunities for investment and trade in and through Morocco,said IBusiness Times.
The Casablanca port acts as gateways to AfCFTA trade,enabling businesses to pursue long-term,forward-looking investments across the continent. As Morocco strengthens its economic infrastructure,UK businesses could also play a key role in developing sustainable shipping,logistics solutions,and innovative technologies in the region.
The Royal Atlantic Vision is now fully underway,propelling Morocco towards an ambitious future as an integrated global maritime power. King Mohammed VI’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in driving progress,transforming the country into a modern,competitive economy,affirmed IBusiness Times.
Morocco will become an increasingly important partner to its European neighbors,offering diverse opportunities for investment and cooperation. Other infrastructure projects across the country – including the planned Port of Dakhla,railway expansion,preparations for the World Cup,and the settlement of the Sahara issue on the basis of the Autonomy plan offered by Kingdom under its sovereignty– will combine to create a harmonized and fully functional Moroccan economy,one prepared to compete on the global stage.
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