Morocco’s port system continues to draw keen interest from major international partners. After including Morocco among its forthcoming cooperation projects, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has now set a timeline in its draft consulting services program published on June 24, 2026. According to the official document, a mission will be deployed from September 2, 2026 to February 26, 2027, following the tender publication scheduled for July 1, 2026, to assess development prospects for Tanger Med, Casablanca port, and the entire national port network.
The document highlights that Tanger Med and Casablanca are “Morocco’s leading ports, situated at the heart of international logistics networks and handling roughly 98% of the country’s external trade.” This status gives Moroccan port infrastructure strategic importance in supply chains linking Europe, Africa, and major global markets.
JICA’s interest goes well beyond mere technical expertise. The terms of reference reflect a commitment to supporting a port system that will underpin the next phases of the Kingdom’s economic growth.
The document notes that Morocco’s port strategy aims at upgrading infrastructure, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and strengthening the country’s role as a bridge between Europe and Africa. The mission must measure progress already made and identify adjustments to keep pace with evolving international trade.
This approach confirms that port competitiveness no longer relies solely on physical terminal capacity. It now also depends on the ability to integrate new environmental, digital, and technological requirements that are gradually reshaping global maritime shipping.
Preparing for tomorrow’s trade needs
A significant part of the work will focus on future trade flow developments. Experts will need to establish cargo traffic forecasts, analyse expansion projects, review development plans, and evaluate port management organisation.
The mandate also includes an analysis of relevant institutions, responsibilities of each stakeholder, and land and sea connections linking Moroccan ports to key European and African markets. The objective is to verify the adequacy of current infrastructure with the future needs of the national economy.
This analysis must culminate in a development strategy accompanied by an execution plan to strengthen coherence between investments, governance, and changes in trade patterns.
Environmental transition at the core
Environmental transition is central to this mission. Consultants will catalogue existing policies in Moroccan ports, assess measures to reduce carbon emissions, and evaluate steps to improve energy efficiency of infrastructure.
In parallel, JICA requests a thorough analysis of port operation digitalisation. The document specifically calls for examining port management digitalisation, ship arrival synchronisation based on “Just in Time” principles, cybersecurity measures, and actions contributing to carbon neutrality.
This combination of digitalisation and operational optimisation aims to streamline calls, reduce vessel waiting times, and improve overall efficiency of port platforms.
Strengthened technological cooperation with Japan
The mission also includes a significant forward-looking dimension. Beyond diagnosis, JICA must identify areas where cooperation with Japan would add value.
The mandate requires developing a list of projects that could mobilise Japanese equipment, digital solutions, and technologies to enhance Moroccan port operations and accelerate decarbonisation. A pilot phase will then test certain solutions before presenting them to Moroccan authorities at a dedicated workshop.
The document further specifies that the study will engage specialists in port planning, digital transformation, decarbonisation, and cybersecurity. Representing 6.61 person-months, this mission remains at this stage a preparatory project whose content may evolve before the final tender publication.
Beyond its technical nature, this initiative underscores the interest that Morocco’s port system attracts from leading international partners.
By simultaneously evaluating infrastructure, governance, digital technologies, environmental requirements, and traffic prospects, JICA places the Kingdom’s ports within a long-term reflection on their capacity to support global trade transformations and consolidate Morocco’s position as a logistics hub between Europe and Africa.
