UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG) CEO Geraint Evans welcomed Morocco’s newly inaugurated initiatives at the Casablanca Port Complex, characterizing the country’s port network as strategic and central to national growth. In remarks on the sidelines of the launch, he said Morocco’s ports are “at the center” of its strategic economic vision, underscoring their role as engines for trade and investment. His assessment places port policy at the heart of Morocco’s development agenda and frames the current momentum as the outcome of deliberate planning and sustained execution.
Evans added that Morocco is reaping the rewards of its “ambitious” approach, arguing that many countries can learn from the government’s recognition of the crucial role ports play in today’s and tomorrow’s economy. By emphasizing an ambitious strategy focused on maritime infrastructure, he suggested that port-centric planning can yield broad benefits across sectors, from logistics to tourism, without losing sight of long-term competitiveness. The comments highlight a policy model that privileges practical delivery and global connectivity as essential components of economic policy.
He described the ongoing expansion of the Kingdom’s ports as “welcome,” pointing to DP World’s decision to launch a maritime service directly linking Morocco to the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. For UKMPG, he said, such developments align with the association’s ambition to strengthen international links between major ports and key markets. The new connection underscores how improved maritime services can consolidate trade corridors, reduce friction at interfaces, and translate strategic intent into day-to-day operations.
Casablanca Projects Signal Ambition and Connectivity
On Thursday, King Mohammed VI inaugurated major development projects at the Casablanca Port Complex to bolster the hub’s economic and tourist influence. The launch reflects a clear political signal: maritime infrastructure remains a pillar of national priorities. The program is designed to reinforce the port’s role as a gateway for commerce and people, while complementing urban and industrial initiatives around the harbor area.
With investments of around MAD 5 billion, the works focus on several pillars: development of a fishing port; construction of a new shipyard; development of a cruise terminal; and construction of an administrative complex that brings together all stakeholders of the Port of Casablanca. Taken together, these assets are intended to improve operational capacity, support industrial activity, and streamline coordination among public and private actors within the port ecosystem.
According to officials, the projects seek to position Casablanca as a leading economic and financial hub on the African continent, fully open to the international community. That objective ties infrastructure upgrades to wider policy aims, marrying capacity increases with improved services for commerce and tourism. By concentrating resources on pivotal facilities, the plan aims to deepen the port’s role in regional networks and to signal reliability to international partners.
Established in 1993, UKMPG is the professional body for the United Kingdom’s leading port operators and represents nine of the country’s top ten operators. Its members collectively manage 75% of the UK’s port volumes through 40 ports. Evans said the Moroccan developments fit squarely with UKMPG’s goal of cultivating stronger links between British gateways and strategic overseas partners.
Framed this way, the Casablanca initiatives and the new links to the UK and Northern Europe illustrate how targeted port investments can reinforce international ties while advancing national priorities. Evans’s remarks point to a feedback loop between infrastructure delivery and commercial demand: as assets come online and services expand, they validate the policy choices behind them and encourage deeper cooperation between port communities.
While the specific timelines and performance metrics were not detailed, the outlined program and the launch of new maritime services indicate a consistent direction of travel. For Morocco, positioning its ports at the center of development remains both an economic and diplomatic statement; for UKMPG and its members, it presents opportunities to translate strategy into operational partnerships across core European routes.
