Morocco moves to liberalize ports sector, minister

The Moroccan government is planning to liberalize the ports sector, minister of equipment and transport, Karim Ghellab, said Friday.

Speaking in Casablanca before new diploma holders of the Maritime Studies Institute (ISEM), Ghellab said this reform will pave the way for services improvement and provide necessary tools for the Moroccan economy to face competition and take up the challenge of globalization, stressing the role of the private sector in the field.

Thanks to the efforts of ports operators, trade maritime links were strengthened this year, either to or from Morocco, he said, adding that new links were opened to increase the number of trips between Tangiers and Algesiras.

Ghellab also announced the opening next week of two new lines linking Al Hoceima (northeastern Morocco) to Spain's southern port city of Almeria, and Almeria to southern Italy.