Port Finance International Casablanca 2016

Returning to Morocco for the 3rd year running, PFI Casablanca will bring maritime, transport, infrastructure and industrial experts together to look at how Morocco is maintaining – and indeed enhancing - its position as a heavyweight hub for trade growth and logistics competitiveness in Africa.

While transport within Africa itself is important, so is getting the continent connected to the rest of the world. That's where gateways – such as ports and terminals - come in. Ports are by far the most important entry point to the African continent with most goods travelling by ship, but there aren't enough ports to handle existing traffic, much less allow for growth. That's set to change. North Africa is quickly becoming one of the most vital regions for growth in the transport and supply chain world, with significant investment from both government and foreign entities. With 20% of the world's maritime traffic passing through the sea-lane, recent developments in Tanger-Med in particular (in operation since 2007) have once again reiterated Morocco's leading position as a bridge between Europe and Africa. Hundreds of foreign companies – have been attracted to the region by a combination of its advantageous geopolitical position, low labour costs, strong education, attractive free trade zones where customs duties are not imposed and red tape is reduced, and logistic developments. Shipping times have been cut in half thanks to the developments in this transhipment hub. Already connecting around 160 ports in 60 countries, it is predicted that by the time Tanger Med 2 opens it will be ranked among the top 20 ports globally.

Additionally – the United Nations 2015 World Population Prospects Report projects that more than half the world's population growth between 2015 to 2030 will be in Africa, with the population doubling from 1.1 billion to 2.4 billion over the next 3.5 decades. This also represents a need for significant investment in port and other transportation infrastructure to meet the strategic and economic growth plans and to match the trade and commerce potential the region is looking to attract. And Morocco has leapt ahead in harnessing these opportunities for expansion. Morocco's relatively stable political landscape positively affects its economic growth. GDP growth was 2.9 percent in 2014, and the IMF anticipates it will gain momentum and reach 5.4 percent in 2020.

Across 2 days of plenary presentations, panel discussions, and keynote sessions, PFI Casablanca 2016 will place a spotlight on the developments and growth plans in the region and Morocco's position in all of this, by bringing together over 150 experts from all parts of this value chain – government bodies, port and terminal operators, transport operators such as shipping lines, logistics, and manufacturers – from throughout Morocco, North & West Africa, and the Mediterranean. Building on the discussions during PFI Casablanca in 2015, which was held under the Auspices of Morocco's Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, PFI Casablanca will provide a platform for discussion, networking, business development and an exchange of learning and dialogue with potential partners and business contacts.