Morocco has taken a further step toward finalizing its National Blue Economy Strategy (SNEB), with the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s Blue Economy Development Program Management Unit convening public and private stakeholders for “Blue Lab II,” a consultation meeting aimed at consolidating the roadmap before its presentation to the relevant interministerial commission.
The event, held under a World Bank-backed results program in place since 2022, brought together representatives from ministries, public institutions, the private sector, technical and financial partners, researchers and experts. It capped more than four years of consultation involving sector studies, territorial consultations and participatory workshops aimed at giving Morocco an integrated vision for the sustainable development of its maritime and coastal heritage.
Organizers said Blue Lab II went beyond a simple feedback workshop, presenting a consolidated version of the strategy, gathering final recommendations from stakeholders, and strengthening consensus around the policy directions that will guide the coming years before formal presentation to national governance bodies.
At the heart of the strategy is the concept of an Atlantic Ocean economic hub, aimed at capitalizing on Morocco’s Atlantic coastline, port infrastructure and openness to Africa, Europe and the Americas to position the kingdom as an international platform for trade, investment, innovation and value chains tied to the blue economy. Discussions also covered the strategy’s five strategic pillars, sectoral trajectories through 2030-2040, and the development of “blue finance,” seen as a key lever for mobilizing public and private investment.
Aligned with the goals of Morocco’s New Development Model, the strategy aims to build on a sector that currently represents nearly 3.8 percent of national GDP and 4.6 percent of employment. Recommendations from Blue Lab II will be folded into the final version of the strategy before its review by the Interministerial Commission for Blue Economy Development, paving the way for a national roadmap to strengthen sustainable growth, spur innovation and investment, and responsibly develop Morocco’s maritime and coastal potential.
