Morocco to host international port ecosystem salon in El Jadida in 2026

Saturday 31 May 2025 - 12:20

Morocco will host the first International Salon for Ports and their Ecosystem (SIPORTS) from February 5 to 7, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Complex in El Jadida. The event is organized by LINECO Events under the patronage of the Ministry of Equipment and Water.

Designed as a strategic platform, SIPORTS aims to strengthen Morocco’s role in global maritime trade. The event will welcome more than 300 exhibitors from four continents and expects around 6,000 professional attendees.

The salon will be organized into five thematic areas: institutional, port industry, operations, scientific and academic, and a museum dedicated to the evolution of port systems.

Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, affirmed the event’s alignment with Morocco’s maritime policy, which is guided by King Mohammed VI’s vision for positioning the country as a key maritime gateway on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. He emphasized the importance of innovation and sustainability as Morocco expands its port infrastructure.

SIPORTS will host an intensive program of keynote addresses, expert panels, technical workshops, and networking sessions. The agenda will focus on topics such as the development of new maritime routes, smart port technology, eco-responsible infrastructure, and regional cooperation.

Mohcine Berrada, president of LINECO Events, described SIPORTS as a global hub of maritime knowledge and solutions. He stressed that the salon aims to respond to the urgent challenges shaping international maritime commerce—namely performance, connectivity, sustainability, and innovation.

The broader goal is to boost Morocco’s standing as a competitive maritime nation. The country's flagship port, Tanger Med, exemplifies this ambition. In 2024, the port handled 10.24 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up from 8.61 million TEUs in 2023. According to Alphaliner's global ranking, Tanger Med now ranks 17th among the world’s top container ports—surpassing Hamburg, Jakarta, and other major global players.

Tanger Med also concluded the 2024 fiscal year with a revenue of $1.212 billion, reflecting a 12.3% increase over the previous year. It remains the only port in both Africa and the Mediterranean region to appear in the global top 30.

Santiago J. Castella Surribas, president of Spain’s Port of Tarragona, recently commended Morocco’s investment in maritime infrastructure, noting its transformation over the past 25 years. Since the launch of Tanger Med in 2007, Morocco has surpassed several major Spanish ports, including Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona.

Further south, Morocco is investing in the Atlantic Port of Dakhla. Set to open by 2029, this new port will handle up to 35 million tons of cargo annually and serve as a logistics corridor for Sahel-Saharan countries. It will also connect African markets with Europe and the Americas.

By hosting SIPORTS and expanding its port capabilities, Morocco is positioning itself as a decisive actor in shaping the future of global trade logistics.