Meeting at Westminster Parliament focuses on Dakhla Atlantic Port

The Dakhla Atlantic Port, a new powerhouse in Morocco’s maritime strategy and a lever for development, integration, and prosperity across the West African region, was the focus of a roundtable held Wednesday at the UK Parliament in Westminster.

The meeting, attended by Morocco’s Ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, along with several members of both Houses of Parliament, offered an opportunity to discuss the port strategy of the Kingdom, an assertive maritime nation that is consolidating its presence on the global port scene, driven by the enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

In his opening remarks, Hajoui highlighted the strategic importance of Dakhla Atlantic Port as a central project within the Royal Atlantic Initiative.

He underlined the region’s significant growth potential, particularly in green energy and sustainable industrialization. The diplomat added that the Dakhla region plays a pivotal role not only in fostering development and prosperity across the wider region but also in enhancing Europe’s security.

Ambassador Hajoui recalled the Integrated Development Program for the Southern Provinces launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2015, which has led to major investments in energy and infrastructure, as well as social, educational, and health projects. These initiatives, he noted, have created hundreds of thousands of jobs and significantly improved local living standards.

For her part, Nisrine Louzzi, Director of Planning for Dakhla Atlantic Port, gave a detailed presentation supported by figures, outlining the port’s strategic significance for both Morocco’s development, including its Southern Provinces, and for trade and economic growth throughout West Africa and beyond, across the entire continent.

Recalling Morocco’s status as a maritime nation with more than 3,500 km of coastline, Louzzi shed light on the country’s port development policy, underscoring its importance for trade and connectivity.

She noted that Morocco, which ranked 81st in the global maritime connectivity index in 2007, aims to rise into the world’s top 20, thanks in particular to Tanger Med Port, as well as to the new Nador West Med and Dakhla Atlantic ports.

The Dakhla Atlantic Port aspires to attract international investment and establish itself as a gateway to the African continent, Louzzi said, noting that the port’s construction is fully aligned with the Royal Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The Initiative seeks to provide landlocked Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean and global markets.

This vision aims to foster shared prosperity, a key condition for shielding the region from instability, she remarked.

The session concluded with exchanges between British parliamentarians and Moroccan representatives, highlighting the relevance of Morocco’s port strategy, the importance of Dakhla Atlantic Port for global connectivity, and its potential appeal to British and international investors.