فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The newly inaugurated maritime line connecting Agadir to Dakar, launched on December 11, 2024, is seen as a true turning point in enhancing trade exchanges between Morocco and sub-Saharan African countries. Set to begin operations in February 2025, this line promises to transform the trade dynamics in the region by facilitating the transport of goods while reducing costs and transit times.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a significant increase in Moroccan citrus exports, which are expected to reach 597,000 tons by 2025, representing a 31% increase. This growth is attributed to two main factors: first, improved climatic conditions and the adoption of advanced water management techniques; second, the strengthening of trade relations between Morocco and West African countries, which will be further supported by this new maritime connection.
In this context, Driss Boutti, president of the Agadir Souss-Massa region within the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), emphasized that these lines aim not only to serve Dakar but also to connect all West African countries and the Sahel region, representing a potential market of around 350 million inhabitants. This new route is expected to facilitate the transport of 6,000 trucks annually out of a required 60,000 trucks needed to meet growing demand.
Kacem Bennanni Smires, president of the Moroccan Interprofessional Citrus Federation (Maroc Citrus), shares this optimism. He pointed out that diversifying African markets has become essential to compensate for the decline in exports to Russia. Statistics show a significant increase in trade exchanges with Africa, positioning the Agadir-Dakar line as a strategic opportunity to stimulate these exchanges.
Moreover, this maritime route will significantly reduce transportation time. Currently, land transport between Agadir and Dakar takes between 9 to 10 days; with the maritime line, this duration will be cut down to just 56 hours. This time-saving is crucial for transporting fresh products.
This initiative falls within a broader strategy by Morocco aimed at strengthening economic ties with sub-Saharan Africa. It may also contribute to achieving a better trade balance between Senegal and Morocco, where Moroccan imports from Senegal reached 123 billion CFA francs in 2023 compared to only 19 billion CFA francs in Senegalese exports.
In conclusion, the Agadir-Dakar maritime line represents a major advancement in enhancing trade exchanges between Morocco and its African partners, opening up new economic prospects for both countries and beyond.
