Tanger Med and ASMEX joined forces for a Tanger Med Talks under the theme “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): New Logistics Ambitions for Moroccan Exports” to initiate a common vision on the future of Moroccan exports with the entry into force of the AfCFTA and define a set of priority actions to strengthen the standing of Moroccan products across the continent.
As a global logistics hub, Tanger Med port plays a key role in trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This agreement, which came into force on January 1st, 2021, is synonymous with investment opportunities for economic operators.
Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, Permanent Secretary General of AfCFTA, explained that this agreement will create “a market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion that is expected to reach nearly $8 trillion in 2035. He stressed the importance of the role of Tanger Med port in this agreement, since this global logistics hub will contribute to the improvement of Moroccan competitiveness and African logistics integration through its important logistics offer. He continues, “What the African Continental Free Trade Area presents is an opportunity for Africa to expand its capacity in terms of logistics, distribution services, as well as maritime transport services and Morocco is well-positioned and strategically located as a country in North Africa to be able to be the interconnect or between Europe and Africa.”
Hassan Sentissi, President of ASMEX, highlighted the importance of AfCFTA for the industrialization of Africa”As economic operators, we must express our pride in finally seeing the implementation of an economic zone within our continent to which almost all African countries are committed. This will offer the possibility of local processing of raw materials in which Africa abounds and accelerate the implementation of an African industrial base to meet the needs of its populations.”
