Morocco’s port system continues to attract major international partners. After including Morocco in its upcoming cooperation projects, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has now specified the timeline in its provisional consulting services program, released on June 24, 2026. According to this official document, a mission will be deployed from September 2, 2026, to February 26, 2027, following the tender publication scheduled for July 1, 2026. The mission aims to assess development prospects for Tanger Med, the port of Casablanca, and the entire national port system.
The document highlights that Tanger Med and Casablanca are “Morocco’s main ports, located at the heart of international logistics networks and handling approximately 98% of the country’s foreign trade.” This position gives Moroccan port infrastructure strategic importance in supply chains connecting Europe, Africa, and major global markets.
JICA’s interest goes far beyond technical expertise. The terms of reference reflect a desire to support a port system that will underpin the next stages of Morocco’s economic development. The document notes that Morocco’s port strategy aims to upgrade infrastructure, digitalize operations, decarbonize facilities, and strengthen the country’s role as a bridge between Europe and Africa. The mission will measure progress achieved and identify adjustments needed to keep pace with evolving international trade.
This approach confirms that port competitiveness is no longer solely about physical terminal capacity. It now also depends on the ability to integrate new environmental, digital, and technological requirements that are gradually reshaping global maritime transport.
Preparing for tomorrow’s trade needs
A significant portion of the work will focus on future changes in trade flows. Experts will prepare cargo traffic forecasts, analyze expansion projects, review development plans, and assess port management organization. The mandate also includes an analysis of relevant institutions, responsibilities of each stakeholder, and land and maritime connections linking Moroccan ports to key European and African markets. The goal is to verify whether current infrastructure matches the future needs of the national economy.
This analysis should lead to a development strategy accompanied by an execution plan to strengthen coherence between investments, governance, and the evolution of trade patterns.
Environmental transition is central to this mission. Consultants will inventory existing policies in Moroccan ports, evaluate measures to reduce carbon emissions, and assess efforts to improve energy efficiency. In parallel, JICA calls for a thorough analysis of port operation digitalization. The document specifically examines digital port management, synchronization of ship arrivals using “Just in Time” principles, cybersecurity systems, and measures contributing to carbon neutrality. This combination of digitalization and operational optimization aims to streamline port calls, reduce ship waiting times, and improve overall efficiency.
Stronger technological cooperation with Japan
The mission also includes an important forward-looking dimension. Beyond diagnosis, JICA must identify areas where cooperation with Japan would bring added value. The mandate calls for developing a list of projects that could mobilize Japanese equipment, digital solutions, and technologies to improve Moroccan port operations and accelerate decarbonization. A pilot phase will then test certain solutions before presenting them to Moroccan authorities during a dedicated workshop.
The document also specifies that the study will involve specialists in port planning, digital transformation, decarbonization, and cybersecurity. Representing 6.61 person-months, this mission remains at this stage a preparatory project whose content may evolve before the final tender is published. Beyond its technical nature, this initiative illustrates the strong interest that Morocco’s port system generates among top international partners.
By simultaneously evaluating infrastructure, governance, digital technologies, environmental requirements, and traffic prospects, JICA positions Morocco’s ports within a long-term reflection on their capacity to support global trade transformations and consolidate the country’s role as a logistics hub between Europe and Africa.
