A delegation from Port Vell in the Port of Barcelona visited the historic Port of Tangier-Ville. During the visit, officials from the ports of Barcelona and Tangier reflected together on the future of port cities, the role these areas should play in economic revitalization and local and regional development, and the challenges facing these old port areas that are now open to the public.
The Catalan delegation was made up of the director of Port Vell, David Pino; the secretary general, Ángeles Rodrigo; the director of Marina Port Vell and president of the Barcelona Nautical Cluster, Ignacio Erroz; the general director of Nueva Bocana and head of Port-City at the Governing Council of the Port Community of Barcelona, Javier Casado; and the CEO of World Trade Center Barcelona, Carlos Anglada. The Moroccan delegation was headed by the president of the Société de gestion du port de Tanger Ville, SA, Mohamed Ouanaya; and the general director, Yamil Ouazzani.
Moroccan officials presented the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for the Port of Tangier-Ville, which has the dual objective of strengthening Tangier’s image as a tourist and travel destination, as well as improving the performance of this port city. The plan proposes actions to respond to the demands of corporate social responsibility (environment, social and governance) in a scenario of sustainable development for the port sector, taking into account new technologies (artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, etc.) and legal and regulatory aspects.
Over the last 15 years, the Port of Tangier-Ville has undergone a spectacular transformation, with the transfer of commercial and industrial activities to the modern Port of Tangier Med and the investment of €700 million in the redevelopment of the port and the Tangier waterfront. This transformation has enabled the sustainable development of fishing, the nautical sector, tourism, railways and cruises, the restoration of historical heritage, and the revitalization of business. The integration of the port area with the old part of the medina, creating high-quality public spaces and connecting the port and the city, has improved the quality of life of its citizens and has been an effective tool for generating pride in the city and the port. The Old Port of Barcelona was, and continues to be, the inspiration for the aforementioned transformation that begun in 2011.
For its part, the Port of Barcelona delegation presented the Port Vell Strategic Plan 2025-2030, which seeks to consolidate its position as a diversified, innovative, and sustainable citizen port that acts as a social catalyst for the region and boosts its economic impact. This plan, which involves an investment of €250 million, focuses on improving sustainability, the uniqueness of the area, and economic revitalization. The key aspects of the Strategic Plan are sustainability, uniqueness, economic revitalization, port-city integration, expansion, and investment.
This visit will take place after a delegation from the Port of Tangier-Ville travelled to Barcelona from May 19th to 21st this year and aims to establish a stable framework for collaboration and exchange.
