EBRD gives final pre-operational push to support Nador West Med’s BILZ: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a EUR 2.1 mn grant to support Nador West Med’s Betoya Industrial and Logistics Zone (BILZ) — targeting the final stretch before full operations.

Where’s the money going? The funding backs a technical support program to prepare the port and industrial zone. The list includes improving planning and operational standards, alongside establishing climate-resilient infrastructure. A new digital one-stop service center at Betoya will be rolled out to guide investors step by step through launching their activities.

Connecting port, policy, and production: “The operationalization of a complex such as Nador West Med involves coordination across a range of stakeholders operating at the port, industrial zone, regulatory, and investment-promotion levels… the program focuses on strengthening systems and processes that enable smooth interaction across stakeholders through digitalization, streamlined investor services, and institutional capacity building,” EBRD Director in Morocco Haytham Eissa tells EnterpriseAM.

Why this matters

A new engine for national growth? “Nador West Med plays an important role in advancing regional inclusion. By attracting industrial activity and foreign direct investment (FDI) to Morocco’s Oriental Region, the project is intended to expand economic windows, support job creation, and contribute to more balanced territorial development. It strengthens Morocco’s overall port and industrial network by widening the country’s growth base and extending its connectivity and investment reach,” Eissa tells us.

A new star on the Med — learning from Tangier’s success. Morocco already operates one of the Mediterranean’s busiest transhipment hubs, Tangier Med — setting a clear benchmark for what a competitive port looks like. “Tangier Med’s success provides Morocco with a unique advantage, as it demonstrates the country’s proven ability to develop and operate world-class logistics platforms. Nador West Med has the [window] to build on this experience while developing its own distinct positioning,” Eissa notes.

What’s next?

Morocco is slated to launch operations at the port in 4Q 2026 — hosting an annual capacity of 5 mn containers, expandable to nearly 12 mn. It is designed to be home to the Kingdom’s first LNG terminal — with an annual capacity of some 5 bcm.

What should we expect during its early operational phase? “In its early phase, the focus should be on consolidating core fundamentals, including effective port-zone integration and logistics connectivity, a predictable and investor-friendly operating framework, streamlined administrative and digital investor services, robust sustainability, and climate-resilience standards to ensure that skills and capabilities evolve in line with investor needs,” Eissa adds.

Which indicators matter most in the early stages for Nador West Med?

Building strong foundations is key: “Year-one performance is less about immediate scale and more about establishing a credible, well-functioning, and investment-ready platform capable of generating sustained economic and social impact over time. For greenfield economic zones, first-year performance is typically best assessed through foundational readiness and trajectory indicators rather than pure volume metrics,” Eissa says.

Background

Morocco is looking to turn its Mediterranean north into a functioning port-industrial hub. The deepwater port and economic zone have absorbed some MAD 51 bn in public and private investments so far.

EBRD has been a core backer throughout the buildout — committing some EUR 120 mn to the port and, earlier last year, a separate EUR 110 mn senior loan to develop BILZ’s industrial infrastructure, alongside an on-site desalination plant, two wastewater treatment plants, and energy-efficient street lighting.

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