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The Liberian National Port Authority has partnered strategically with Morocco’s ports management firm Marsa Maroc to modernise and develop the West African country’s port infrastructure. Liberia intends to transform its port infrastructure into a regional hub.
This marks an important step in the cooperation between the two parties and strengthens Marsa Maroc’s presence in the West African market, following its contract to operate the Port of Cotonou in Benin. This partnership is also part of Liberia’s efforts to revitalise its port facilities, a key sector for economic development.
In recent years, regulatory and institutional reforms have been implemented to improve the efficiency of Liberia’s ports, but a few are still lacking. One example is the Port of Monrovia, which has fallen to 344 out of 405 in the 2023 global ranking of the most efficient port hubs due to its declining efficiency.
The agreement, which includes concession and operation projects, mainly concerns the ports of Monrovia and Buchanan. It also includes the development of a new multi-purpose terminal to meet the growing needs of international trade and boost activity at these strategic hubs. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, major institutional reforms are on the agenda with the creation of a Seaport Regulatory Authority and the decentralization of port hub management. These measures are aimed at improving port governance and restoring Liberia’s ports to their central role in the country’s economy.
The critical situation of Liberia’s southeastern ports was also a cause for concern. According to the National Port Authority of Liberia, these ports have been completely abandoned over the past six years, with infrastructure in ruins and operational capacity at an all-time low.
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This partnership with Marsa Maroc represents an opportunity for Liberia to turn around its port sector and attract new investment while being part of a broader framework of South-South cooperation, a driving force for development in West Africa. The Marsa Maroc Group is the national leader in the management of port terminals, with a significant presence in all of Morocco’s commercial ports.
