Rabat – El Jadida welcomes the first edition of the International Ports and Port Industries Exhibition, “SIPORTS 2026,” at the Mohammed VI Exhibition Center from April 1 to 3.
Organized by the Ministry of Equipment and Water, SIPORTS 2026 is the first of its kind in Morocco and the region in terms of scale and scope.
The exhibition comes amid persistent geopolitical tensions that have disrupted global supply chains, at a time when Africa is emerging as a strategic hub for international trade.
In this context, Morocco is positioning itself as a logistical bridge linking Africa with Europe and the Americas, in line with the Royal Atlantic Initiative, which aims to boost regional cooperation and sustainable development.
The initiative seeks to create an economic hub along the Atlantic coast to support growth in 23 African countries, strengthen regional stability through trade, and provide landlocked Sahel nations with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Over three days, SIPORTS 2026 features a rich program of conferences and panel discussions.
Experts and industry leaders address key issues such as the role of African ports in regional integration, logistics development through cooperation, port integration within the Atlantic African space, project financing and investment appeal, as well as competitiveness, connectivity, and evolving strategic challenges in the sector.
The program also includes a workshop on women’s leadership in the maritime industries and a roundtable on the development of the blue economy along the Atlantic coastline.
On the sidelines of the event, the Atlantic African States Process (PEAA) convened a strategic meeting with port authorities from Sub-Saharan Atlantic African countries.
In parallel, LINECO Events, in partnership with the ARKANE Foundation, hosted a live art exhibition bringing together artists from ten Sub-Saharan African countries. Additional activities included a hackathon led by the National Ports Agency (ANP) and PortNet, focused on the “Smart Port Challenge.”
For the first time in Morocco, SIPORTS 2026 introduced a “Ports Museum,” guiding visitors through the maritime history of Morocco and Africa, from early vessels to modern and future port infrastructure.
The exhibition offers insight into the role of maritime trade in economic development and shedds light on trends in smart and sustainable ports operations.
The event brings together over 6,000 professional visitors and 200 exhibitors from 20 countries spanning institutions, port authorities, the maritime industry, terminal operatorss, shipowners, maritime agentss, academic institutions, and professional associations.