The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Nador West Med (NWM) – Bétoya Industrial & Logistic Zone (BILZ) signed a €2.1 million grant agreement on Friday in Rabat to support the development of the NWM complex as an attractive, dynamic, and sustainable economic zone in Morocco.
Inked by EBRD Director and Country Manager for Morocco Haytham Eissa and CEO of Nador West Med Mohamed Jamal Benjelloun, this agreement will finance a Technical Cooperation (TC) program designed to support Nador West Med as it prepares for the commissioning phase of the industrial port complex, the EBRD said in a press release.
This program, which complements the €120 million in financing provided by the EBRD to NWM in 2025, will focus on digitizing the complex’s management and operating processes, integrating resilient infrastructure and sustainable energy solutions into the development of the zone, and strengthening the institutional skills and implementation capacities of the managing entity, according to the same source.
The overarching objective is to ensure the efficient, sustainable, and internationally compliant commissioning of the Nador West Med complex.
A core component of the technical cooperation support will be accelerating the digitization of BILZ through the development and adaptation of a fully automated one-stop-shop platform. This system will offer investors an integrated and seamless process, facilitating the establishment of operations within the economic zone and enhancing its attractiveness to domestic and international investors.
In parallel, a dedicated initiative will support the preparation of a sustainable infrastructure plan that aims to integrate resilient infrastructure and sustainable energy solutions into the zone’s development, in order to ensure its long-term climate resilience.
Recognizing that infrastructure investments must be accompanied by human capital development, the CT program will also include targeted support for the development and consolidation of the technical, managerial, and cross-functional skills of NWM staff.
The program will also support the skills development essential for the launch and optimal operation of the port complex and adjacent economic zones, while fostering a culture, of continuous improvement in both collective and individual performance to ensure the success, competitiveness, and sustainability of the project.
Quoted in the press release, Eissa emphasized that “this technical cooperation program reflects the EBRD’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s regional development and strengthening its economic competitiveness.”
A founding member of the EBRD, Morocco became an investee economy in 2012. To date, the EBRD has invested around €6 billion in Morocco through 125 projects.
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