WestMED and Moroccan Blue Economy developments presented at Salon Halieutis 2025

WestMED Morocco organised a Blue Economy presentation during the 7th edition of Morocco’s’ Salon Halieutis, a biennial international meeting of the fishing sector. It did so, as part of the EU’s Morocco Delegation exhibition. The fair took place in Agadir from February 6 to 9, 2025, and was themed: “Research and innovation for a sustainable fishing sector.”

Joint presentation with Morocco’s Blue Economy Development Commission: CIDEB
Following a proposal from the Delegation of the European Union in Morocco, WestMED’s Moroccan National Hub, Mr. Hassan Agouzoul, seized the opportunity to also invite Ms. Shiham Fellahi for a joint presentation focused on the Blue Economy. Ms Fellahi is the coordinator of the Interministerial Commission for the Development of the Blue Economy (CIDEB), that was created in 2023 to manage the development of the Moroccan Blue Economy Strategy, officially launched in February 2024.

At the opening of her presentation Ms. Elke Westenberger, acting as support to WestMED’s Moroccan National Hub, expressed WestMEDs appreciation for this opportunity to present the WestMED Initiative at this platform.

She presented the background this Initiative and the results that have been achieved through assisting projects and project ideas focused on strenghtening the sustainable blue economy; mainly by helping to find project partners and finding funding funding opportunities. She also highlighted the work of the regional thematic technical stakeholder groups that have been created, focused on sectoral discussions and joint project proposals: green shipping, sustainable aquaculture, the Maritime Clusters Alliance and the recently created technical group on Sustainable Tourism. During her presentation, Ms Westenberger made direct references to the upcoming Moroccan Blue Economy strategy.

WestMED Morocco (upcoming) activities
Ms Westenberger also recalled the main event organized by WestMED Morocco in 2024: a national dialogue focused on the main challenges of blue economy implementation in Morocco – specifically regarding Integrated Institutional Governance, Energy, Seawater Desalination, Green Hydrogen and Biodiversity, climate resilience and the development of a National Blue Tourism Strategy. This event took place with the participation of leading policymakers and private stakeholders. This was followed by an overview of WestMED activities planned for 2025 in Morocco; mainly the organization of an in-person national blue economy dialogue as well as blue economy webinars for the stakeholders of Morocco’s 9 coastal regions with the objective of encouraging the creation of maritime clusters in each of these regions.

Blue Economy Development in Morocco
Ms. Siham Fellahi, from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Budget Department, then took the floor in her function of coordinator of the Interministerial Commission for the Development of the Blue Economy (CIDEB) that was created in the framework of the World Banks financing instrument PforR (Program for Results).

The Blue Economy Results Program is a strategic initiative supported by a $350 million contribution from the World Bank and a $5 million grant from the PROBLUE fund. Led by CIDEB, eight government departments are mobilized to strengthen the management of marine resources, integrating economic development, job creation and environmental preservation. Coordination mechanisms, such as a Project Management Unit, have been established, and the active participation of local communities is encouraged through innovative projects aimed at supporting the economic development of communities and the conservation of marine ecosystems, in accordance with SDG 14.

She gave an overview of the state of the blue economy in Morocco and its national significance, as well as the implementation of the blue economy PforR aiming at developing a Moroccan blue economy strategy over 5 years. The program has two pilot regions, Souss-Massa and Tangiers-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, which are the main blue economy contributors through the fishery and tourism sectors. 8 main institutional partner organizations representing ministries, government agencies and research institutes collaborate to roll out the program.

Ms. Fellahi placed a particular accent on the necessary development of maritime clusters and blue finance, which corroborates the main working themes identified also by the WestMED National Hub and bodes well for forthcoming collaborations this year.

After these two presentations a discussion with the audience followed whereby great interest was shown in the available funding opportunities, although it had to be made clear that WestMED is an Assistance Mechanism and does not fund projects itself.

It was a pleasant event in a collegial and informative setting, and we reiterate our thanks to the EU for its invitation and to Ms. Fellahi for her presence and insights.

For more information: contact Elke Westenberger or Hassan Agouzoul (WestMED Morocco): morocco@westmed-inititiative.ec.europa.eu