ELI Forum Morocco 2026 Launches in Tangier to Shape Vision 2030

Tangier – ELI Forum Morocco 2026 kicked off its inaugural edition on Saturday at the Hilton Al Houara in Tangier, offering a high-level platform to position the region as a major hub for global investment and cross-border collaboration.

Organized by Nabil Baraka, President of ELI Forum Morocco, the forum aims to strengthen connections between Morocco and the wider African continent across business, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Through a series of discussions and panels, the event explored key topics linked to economic development, investment, and Morocco’s Vision 2030.

The forum brought together entrepreneurs, investors, institutional leaders, public decision-makers, and major economic stakeholders from Morocco, Africa, the Atlantic region, and international markets.

Among the participants were Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water; Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade; and Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills.

The opening panel focused on port infrastructure and major strategic projects, with Minister Nizar Baraka among the speakers.

Domestic infrastructure and water security

Morocco has drastically accelerated its public infrastructure spending over the last five years as a strategic choice to cement its position as a regional economic power. Baraka revealed that public investment has surged from MAD 240 billion ($24 billion) in 2022 to MAD 380 billion ($38 billion) currently. This massive financial commitment has been successfully maintained despite intense economic headwinds, including the war in Ukraine and years of severe drought.

Faced with seven consecutive years of water stress, the country is now executing a major paradigm shift toward unconventional water management policies.

Morocco is aggressively scaling up its seawater desalination capabilities powered by low-cost renewable energy, the minister explained, with a target to cover 60% of its water needs by 2030 through massive new infrastructure projects, including upcoming desalination stations in Tangier and Casablanca.

Additionally, a highly ambitious 400-kilometer water highway project is underway to redirect excess water from northern basins directly to the nation’s hardest-hit regions.

In tandem with these vital water security measures, Morocco is rapidly expanding its maritime infrastructure to dominate both the Mediterranean and Atlantic trade corridors.

The world-class Tanger Med port, currently ranked sixth globally, will soon be reinforced by the launch of the Nador West Med port to capture even more international container traffic. Meanwhile, construction of the massive Dakhla Atlantic port has reached 62% completion ahead of its 2028 deadline, anchoring a grand industrial hub and the strategic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline.

Regional growth and African integration

In another panel dedicated to industry and free trade zones, which explored how Morocco’s new port infrastructure and pipeline networks connect to the wider continent, it became clear that Morocco’s push for deep continental integration represents a strategic, action-oriented vision rather than a standard industrial expansion.

Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, noted that Morocco is positioning its domestic development model as a “proof of concept” to be expanded across Atlantic Africa. This approach relies on heavy co-investment and shared value creation alongside African partners to build genuine economic resilience.

A core pillar of this regional strategy is the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which serves as a comprehensive development project rather than a simple energy transit line to Europe. The pipeline is designed to cross the desert, connecting three major gas-producing countries with eleven energy-hungry consumer markets. By providing direct access to electricity, the initiative aims to power millions of households and fuel expanding industrial zones across the continent.

Beyond electricity, Mezzour added, this energy infrastructure is directly linked to safeguarding African food security and driving agricultural innovation. The available gas will be combined with Moroccan phosphate to co-develop customized fertilizers specifically adapted to the unique soil needs of each participating nation.

Ultimately, the business model uses gas transformation and maritime connectivity to unlock mass employment, localized development, and inclusive prosperity across the region.

Charting the path to 2030

As discussions continued around artificial intelligence, tourism, sustainable development, and other strategic priorities, one idea remained constant throughout the forum: Morocco’s 2030 vision.
Whether through major infrastructure projects, water security strategies, industrial expansion, or deeper African partnerships, the conversations reflected a country positioning itself not only for future growth but also for a larger role in shaping regional economic development.
As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, the country’s focus extends far beyond the tournament itself.

The infrastructure, energy, and connectivity projects discussed throughout the forum point to a wider geoeconomic ambition aimed at positioning Morocco as a leading gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic region.