APA-Casablanca (Morocco) The Tangier- Mediterranean port complex which has been partly operational since last September remains the major reforming project launched since the advent of King Mohammed VI on 23 July 1999.
Launched in February 2003 and unveiled in late July by King Mohammed VI, the "Tangier-Med" port project is built in northern Morocco on the Straits of Gibraltar at the junction of major maritime roads, running 35km east of Tangier city and 12km from Europe.
Its total cost is estimated at 11 billion dirham (US$1.3 billion).
As part of Moroccan approach to establish itself in the Mediterranean Euro zone, this mega-project also paves the way for a “globalized Morocco" which intends, among others, to become the watershed of global trade.
This project provides for a deepwater port which handles the container transactions, the international road transport, and for passengers as well as a 98-hectare logistic free zone nearby to the port.
Another 600-hectare facility is also provided 20km from the port particularly for export industries.
The Tangier-Med port, whose works are very nonchalant, consist also in developing a 15-km trade free zone for wholesale and retailing corporations and service providers as well as a 190-hectare tourist zone and connexion facilities, and a 45-km railway linking Tangier and the future complex.
In 2009, the port will be able to welcome over 5 million travellers enjoying the connexion facilities owing to a 54-km highway which is slated for inauguration in early 2008, linking the port to the free zones and the Tangier-Casablanca highway.
To pursue this spirit of reform and make this complex an essential maritime trade hub in the region, the Moroccan authorities resolved in April 2007 to build a second port – Tangier Med II – for containers on the western side of Tangier Med I.
Estimated at 14 billion dirham, this second project will prompt the construction of new deep-water container terminals which will accommodate up to 5 million containers, in addition to the 3.5 million capacity of the first port.
The contract for the conception and building of Tangier-Med II will be concluded in winter 2008 following a long process of international bids launched since last October.
The Container Terminal 1 is already commissioned, pending the Terminal 2 slated for launch in summer 2008.
This mega-project aims at embodying the liberal policy of the Moroccan economy open to the world.
Its main objectives tie on the creation of about 400,000 jobs in the region by attracting private investors in the free zones, the tourist and trade zones.
The Tangier-Med I project also seeks to position the north of Morocco as a provider of European markets by taking advantage of the free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) implemented since 2002.
Owing to this complex, which is expected to be one of the most successful Mediterranean facilities, the Moroccan government eyes a community market of over 600 million inhabitants spanning Western Europe, West and North Africa, and North America.
The main port transactions are secured by world-famous business people that commit to invest in superstructure and port facilities, and to provide service and safeguard competitive costs.
Tangier-Med I will be commissioned in 2009 in its various components, and Tangier Med II will be completed in 2012.
These two facilities will accommodate over 8 million containers, making this port complex one of the world’s major platforms of transhipment of containers.
Launched in February 2003 and unveiled in late July by King Mohammed VI, the "Tangier-Med" port project is built in northern Morocco on the Straits of Gibraltar at the junction of major maritime roads, running 35km east of Tangier city and 12km from Europe.
Its total cost is estimated at 11 billion dirham (US$1.3 billion).
As part of Moroccan approach to establish itself in the Mediterranean Euro zone, this mega-project also paves the way for a “globalized Morocco" which intends, among others, to become the watershed of global trade.
This project provides for a deepwater port which handles the container transactions, the international road transport, and for passengers as well as a 98-hectare logistic free zone nearby to the port.
Another 600-hectare facility is also provided 20km from the port particularly for export industries.
The Tangier-Med port, whose works are very nonchalant, consist also in developing a 15-km trade free zone for wholesale and retailing corporations and service providers as well as a 190-hectare tourist zone and connexion facilities, and a 45-km railway linking Tangier and the future complex.
In 2009, the port will be able to welcome over 5 million travellers enjoying the connexion facilities owing to a 54-km highway which is slated for inauguration in early 2008, linking the port to the free zones and the Tangier-Casablanca highway.
To pursue this spirit of reform and make this complex an essential maritime trade hub in the region, the Moroccan authorities resolved in April 2007 to build a second port – Tangier Med II – for containers on the western side of Tangier Med I.
Estimated at 14 billion dirham, this second project will prompt the construction of new deep-water container terminals which will accommodate up to 5 million containers, in addition to the 3.5 million capacity of the first port.
The contract for the conception and building of Tangier-Med II will be concluded in winter 2008 following a long process of international bids launched since last October.
The Container Terminal 1 is already commissioned, pending the Terminal 2 slated for launch in summer 2008.
This mega-project aims at embodying the liberal policy of the Moroccan economy open to the world.
Its main objectives tie on the creation of about 400,000 jobs in the region by attracting private investors in the free zones, the tourist and trade zones.
The Tangier-Med I project also seeks to position the north of Morocco as a provider of European markets by taking advantage of the free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) implemented since 2002.
Owing to this complex, which is expected to be one of the most successful Mediterranean facilities, the Moroccan government eyes a community market of over 600 million inhabitants spanning Western Europe, West and North Africa, and North America.
The main port transactions are secured by world-famous business people that commit to invest in superstructure and port facilities, and to provide service and safeguard competitive costs.
Tangier-Med I will be commissioned in 2009 in its various components, and Tangier Med II will be completed in 2012.
These two facilities will accommodate over 8 million containers, making this port complex one of the world’s major platforms of transhipment of containers.