Morocco is changing the way its main ports agency is run. The House of Representatives has approved a bill to turn the National Ports Agency (ANP) into a state-owned company called Ports du Maroc SA. The bill passed with 80 votes in favour and two against.
The government says the move will help improve management, speed up decision-making, and increase efficiency across the country’s ports.
Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka told MPs that the change is part of a wider government plan to modernise public institutions by turning some of them into joint-stock companies.
He said all existing employee rights and benefits would be protected.
The ANP manages ports that handle more than 90 million tonnes of goods every year, including the major ports of Casablanca and Jorf Lasfar.
The reform comes as Morocco continues to strengthen its position as a major transport and trade hub. Tanger Med, which is not included in the reform, recently handled a record 8.6 million containers.
Ports du Maroc SA will remain fully owned by the Moroccan state. It will be run by a board of directors that includes independent members, while a chief executive will oversee daily operations.
The company will be responsible for managing, developing, maintaining and promoting Morocco’s ports on behalf of the state. The only exceptions are ports in the Tanger Med Special Development Zone and the Marchica Lagoon area.
It will also prepare port development plans, issue licences and permits, award concessions and monitor port operators.
The reform is part of a broader programme led by the National Agency for the Strategic Management of State Holdings (ANGSPE), which aims to improve the performance of state-owned companies.
