Morocco and Spain strengthen commercial ties through Agadir and Cadiz

Economic and trade relations between Morocco and Spain are still going through an exceptional phase. 

Trade exchanges and mutual investments on both sides of the Mediterranean continue to be fruitful thanks to an intense relationship between partner countries and allies. This relationship has been strengthened especially since the Spanish government recognised Morocco's Sovereignty Plan for Western Sahara as the most serious, credible and realistic option for resolving the Sahrawi dispute, which supports Morocco's territorial integrity.

This Spanish political movement led to the opening of a scenario that resulted in an important High Level Meeting held in Rabat in February 2023, in which all kinds of political, cultural, educational and economic agreements were sealed that have significantly marked the relationship between the two nations. 

Within this dynamic, the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz has now organised an institutional and commercial mission in Agadir with a view to developing an important commercial event that seeks to further strengthen Spanish-Moroccan economic and commercial ties. 

Thus, the port of Cadiz has directed a mission to the city of Agadir, situated in the Moroccan region of Souss Massa, in the south of Morocco, on the 19th and 20th November, with the aim of promoting the port of Cadiz as a strategic logistic platform and as a centre for trade, tourism and business development between the two countries. 

For this initiative, the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz has had the support of local Cadiz and Andalusian institutions, such as the Cadiz City Council, the Andalusian Regional Government, the Cadiz Provincial Council, the Free Trade Zone Consortium and the Cadiz Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation. 

From the business world, the presence of Cadiship, PTP España, Transportes Mazo, International Ports & Shipping Services, Altair Consultores Logísticos, Blue Water Shipping, Bernardino Abad and the Cádiz-Port association, dedicated to the promotion of the port of the Bay of Cádiz, should be highlighted in this initiative.

This important initiative of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz will enable Andalusian companies in general and Cadiz companies in particular to position themselves in one of the richest and most commercially promising regions of the North African country. 

The port of Cadiz is thus integrated into the Atlantic initiative led by Morocco, which will enable it to increase trade flows with both the African continent and South America. 

An Atlantic initiative which, under the instructions of King Mohammed VI, aims to facilitate access to the Atlantic for various African countries, mainly those of the Sahel region, in order to develop their economic and commercial potential. 

The coordination of contacts between the Spanish and Moroccan representatives is the responsibility of the company Audakia Lab XXI S.L., whose Business Development Director is Nourdine Mouati. 

In Morocco, the delegation led by the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz will be supported by the Regional Investment Centre of Souss-Massa, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services and the regional section of the General Confederation of Moroccan Companies (CGEM). Several Moroccan professional associations will also participate, such as the Moroccan Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters, the Moroccan Association of Agricultural Product Packaging and the Chamber of Maritime Fisheries of the Central Atlantic, not forgetting the port of Agadir. 

The mission foresees bilateral meetings in which Spanish and Moroccan companies and institutions have the opportunity to present their activities and explore business and investment opportunities. A programme of visits was also organised, including the facilities of the port of Agadir, the CNFC shipyards, a seafood processing unit, another specialised in the export of agricultural products, as well as the Leoni car factory. 

This initiative is part of the will of the port of Cadiz to re-establish maritime traffic with Morocco, suspended since 2014. With its geostrategic position on the main maritime routes of the world and its multimodal infrastructures - port, international airport, motorways and railways - the port of the Bay of Cadiz also stands out for its capacity to accommodate various types of traffic: road transport, containers, bulk, cruises, fishing and even industrial activities such as ship repair or offshore projects.