Tanger Med CEO dismissed over conflict of interest with Spanish consultancy firm

Sunday 02 March 2025 - 11:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Tanger Med CEO dismissed over conflict of interest with Spanish consultancy firm

Hassan Abkari, the Director General of Tanger Med Port Authority (TMPA), has been relieved of his duties following revelations of a private business venture in Spain’s port sector, raising concerns over a conflict of interest.

The decision came during an emergency board meeting held on February 27. Idriss Aarabi, previously the operations director, has been appointed as the new Director General of TMPA.

Abkari’s dismissal follows reports from Spanish media outlet Economiadigital.es, which revealed on February 20 that he had launched “New Port Consulting 2024” on January 13. The consultancy, registered in Valencia with a symbolic capital of one euro, offers technical services in port management and reportedly extends its activities to real estate, including the management and sale of urban and rural properties.

The company’s registration in Valencia’s Commercial Registry confirms Abkari as its sole partner and administrator, with its office located in central Valencia.

This venture was perceived as a direct conflict of interest with Abkari's official role at Tanger Med, a strategic Moroccan port that has become a key competitor to Spanish ports such as Algeciras and Valencia.

Tanger Med has seen remarkable growth in recent years. In 2023, it managed 8.61 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), ranking 19th globally in container volume and fourth in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). By 2024, the port had processed over 10.24 million TEUs, marking an 18.8% growth year-on-year.

Highlighting its strategic importance, Tanger Med benefits from its location at the crossroads of major global maritime routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The port has drawn significant international attention, including from Danish shipping giant Maersk, which recently shifted a major shipping route from Algeciras to Tanger Med, citing improved transit times that shortened shipping by five days between Asia and the U.S. East Coast.

Abkari’s connections to Valencia’s port sector were not new. In September 2024, he hosted a delegation from the Valencian Business Association (AVE) at Tanger Med, where he emphasized the port’s role as a global logistics hub and key player in international maritime trade.

Abkari had been with the Tanger Med group since its inception in 2006, serving in various leadership roles and as a board member of the Tangier Med Special Agency (TMSA).

His successor, Idriss Aarabi, brings extensive experience to the role. A native of Tangier, Aarabi joined TMPA in 2007 as operations manager for the passenger and roll-on/roll-off port. He holds a Master’s degree in commerce and management and began his career in 2002 with Morocco’s National Motorway Company (ADM) before joining Tanger Med as operations director in 2019.

The TMPA board has tasked Aarabi with ensuring operational stability and continuity as the port navigates this leadership transition.