• Japan adds $3.3 million to the Souiria K’dima fishing port project

• Total Japanese funding for the project reaches $17.2 million

• Safi ranks as Morocco’s third-largest fishing port by volume

Japan has granted Morocco an additional $3.3 million to support the fisheries sector, bringing new funding to a next-generation fishing port project in the province of Safi. The announcement was made on December 23 by the Japanese Embassy in Morocco, following the signing of a diplomatic agreement between Onishi Yohei, Japan’s parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs, and Zakia Driouich, Morocco’s secretary of state for maritime fisheries.

According to local media, the funding, equivalent to 30.4 million dirhams, will finance the development of the new fishing port at Souiria K’dima, in Safi province. The project falls under Japan’s non-repayable financial cooperation program, implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

With this latest contribution, total Japanese support for the Souiria fishing port project now stands at 157 million dirhams, or about $17.2 million. In February, the two countries had already signed a grant agreement worth 133 million dirhams for the same project.

Local daily Aujourd’hui le Maroc reported that the additional funding will strengthen the project by ensuring the full completion of all planned components, in line with the original objectives, and by supporting its comprehensive and sustainable implementation.

The next-generation fishing port project at Souiria K’dima aims to expand the capacity and functionality of fish landing facilities. In a statement published on February 2, 2025, JICA said the project would be implemented over a 43-month period.

Planned infrastructure includes the construction of a new breakwater, a new dike, a new fish landing quay, the development of a dedicated fish handling area, and the extension of the existing breakwater.

Once operational, the new facilities are expected to strengthen fishing activity in the region. According to data from Morocco’s National Fisheries Office, the port of Safi marketed 51,113 tons of fishery products from coastal and artisanal fishing, making it the country’s third-largest fishing port after Sidi Ifni and Tan-Tan. In 2024, Morocco landed and marketed 1.33 million tons of fishery products, up 6% from the previous year, according to the same source.

Stéphanas Assocle