Laâyoune Strengthens Its Role as a Strategic Hub During the 5th Stage of the Caravan

Laâyoune Strengthens Its Role as a Strategic Hub at the Fifth Stage of the Caravan

The fifth stage of the Caravan of Regional Meetings on Foreign Trade, organized last Wednesday by PORTNET S.A. in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region and the National Ports Agency, took place successfully in Laâyoune. This event underscored the sustained economic dynamism of the southern provinces.

A broad spectrum of institutional and economic stakeholders gathered with a shared goal: to foster the transformation of Moroccan foreign trade and showcase the region’s strategic potential. The event highlighted the numerous advantages of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, including its privileged geographical position, burgeoning infrastructure, and opportunities in key sectors such as logistics, fishing, blue economy, and renewable energy.

During the opening speech, the Director General of PORTNET emphasized the importance of digital transformation as a key lever for enhancing competitiveness and streamlining exchanges. In this context, developments on the PORTNET platform were presented, illustrating progress made in simplifying procedures, notably through the integration of new functionalities that expand the scope of actions related to foreign trade.

Various speakers also brought attention to the region’s structural projects, such as the development of industrial zones in Laâyoune, Boujdour, and Tarfaya, along with initiatives aimed at enhancing territorial attractiveness. The role of the Regional Investment Center in supporting project leaders was particularly highlighted, as was the significance of port offerings and connections with the Canary Islands as a means of accessing European and African markets.

The meeting was marked by rich and constructive exchanges between economic operators and public institution representatives, creating a direct dialogue space around the challenges, constraints, and prospects of foreign trade.

Through this stage, PORTNET reaffirmed its commitment to support the digitalization of procedures, strengthen the competitiveness of Moroccan enterprises, and actively contribute to the integration of regions into international value chains.