The $1.2 Billion Dakhla Atlantic Port is Halfway Done
Situated in the contested Western Sahara area, Dakhla is a small town mostly under Moroccan control. It is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and a saltwater lagoon on a long sand spit. The consistent winds here make it a popular spot for kitesurfing enthusiasts, and the ongoing construction of a new port could transform the region into a bustling trade center.
Anticipated to be completed in 2028, the $1.2 billion megaproject will span 1,650 hectares. The development will feature a commercial port, an oil terminal, a fishing port, and a shipyard. Additionally, a bridge will connect the port to the mainland, and a 7-kilometer road will link the port to a national highway stretching from Tangier to the Mauritania border. Once constructed, the port is expected to handle around 35 million tons of goods annually.
Morocco's economy is set to soar with this incredible opportunity, paving the way for the country to become a bustling maritime hub. The geographic location is key to the port's success, as it connects regions like West Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, the Canary Islands, and even South America.
The initiative is part of Morocco’s national port strategy, which aims to bolster port infrastructure by 2030 to enhance its role in global supply chains. Several other seaports have completed similar construction, but the location of Dakhla’s port is significant and has already begun attracting foreign investors.
Africa's continental free trade agreement ushers in a new era of possibilities, aiming to establish a single market for goods and services. Due to a lack of industrial and exporting infrastructure, less than 5% of African natural resources are processed on the continent. The port in Dakhla will encourage more Africans to begin processing natural resources in Africa, facilitating job growth.
A Gateway To Africa
For more information about the Dakhla Atlantic Port, go to CNN.com:
“The Sahel region, especially landlocked countries such as Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso, are expected to benefit. Houari explains that Morocco has granted the region access to its road and port infrastructure, providing ‘a door to the Atlantic maritime trade.’
Turloch Mooney, head of port intelligence and analytics at research firm S&P Global Market Intelligence, says the development could be beneficial to the region. ‘It is very positive to see modern port and trade infrastructure being developed in the Western Sahara where there is potential to support a large hinterland in West Africa and the Sahel,’ he says. ‘Quality port infrastructure and efficient port operations is part of the package of assurance for foreign direct investment and has been a key factor in the successful growth strategies of many developing countries.’”
Feel free to engage in the comments below or reach out if you have queries or insights regarding African economic development. Your perspective is vital to enriching the conversation and developing comprehensive strategies that cater to Africa's unique economic context.
Source: ‘We’re Constructing An Ecosystem’: How A Small, Windy City Could Become A Gateway For Trade - CNN
Photo Source: WIX - www.wix.com
Written by AQUAMERGE
May 28, 2024