The new Agadir-Dakar maritime route will boost Morocco's trade with sub-Saharan Africa
Morocco has launched a new maritime route between the cities of Agadir and the Senegalese capital, Dakar, which will strengthen trade relations with sub-Saharan Africa. The new route is an alternative to road freight transport between the two countries.
The initiative is the fruit of a partnership between the Moroccan government and the British company Atlas Marine, which will provide a direct maritime link between Agadir and Dakar, making trade more efficient and faster.
The new service is expected to benefit Moroccan truckers, especially those transporting perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables, which need fast delivery.
The Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistics recently commissioned Atlas Marine to complete the necessary processes for the launch of the project, ensuring that operational guidelines are met.
This initiative to integrate maritime transport, as Morocco's coordination strategy, comes at a time when land routes to sub-Saharan Africa are facing challenges.
CGEM-Sous Massa president Driss Bouti stressed that this partnership is a response to rising costs, security concerns and unpredictable technical problems that often disrupt overland transport.
Innovations of the new sea route
Atlas Marine will employ ships that will not only transport cargo trucks and their drivers, but will also accommodate passengers, facilitating transportability for those travelling within the region.
The new maritime route between Agadir and Dakar aims to reduce dependence on land routes, which are hampered by high fuel costs, border delays and security risks, and to promote exchanges between North and West Africa.
In this way, innovation in maritime transport promises to alleviate these logistical burdens, providing a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative. Industry professionals see it as an opportunity to diversify trade routes and reduce environmental impact.
By expanding its transport infrastructure and offering more efficient routes, Morocco enhances its strategic advantage for the continent's trade, while also consolidating its position as a key player in African trade and reinforcing its role as the main link between Africa and Europe.
Morocco's exports
According to the Trade Organization, Morocco's services exports in 2023 were $25 billion, an increase of 16% compared to the figure for 2022.
In addition, Morocco rose to 29th place in the world ranking of exports, a significant advance over its previous position. This progress also highlights the country's strategy to expand its services sector.
This rise also reflects the diversification of exports beyond the traditional sectors. Also, the government's commitment to improving its services sector has positioned Morocco as a competitive player in the international market.
Morocco as a link between Africa and Europe
This maritime route complements the infrastructure already in place in Morocco and the Tangier Med dock which was ranked among the top 20 container ports in the world in 2023.
In addition, this port was awarded the AIVP Antoine Rufenacht Award in November. This award aims to recognise the best city-port interface development projects and highlights those that combine innovation and sustainability aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
The new maritime connection to Dakar is likely to attract more international investments and business partnerships, thus consolidating Morocco's status as a commercial hub and becoming an essential link between Europe and Africa.