APM Terminals opens new container terminal in Tangier, Morocco
APM Terminals Tangier, S.A. and the Akwa Group, a Casablanca, Morocco-based partner have announced the opening of Morocco’s newest container terminal to serve the global trade in Morocco and the Western Mediterranean market.
Strategically-located on one of the world’s most important shipping arteries, the terminal will offer importers and exporters a new gateway to world markets.
Over 200 vessels a day pass through the Straits of Gibraltar as they transit on north-south and east-west liner trade routes. Shipping lines will benefit from Tangier’s direct access to the main shipping lane, a deepwater port capable of handling the largest container ships in the world, the newest, most advanced container handling equipment and APM Terminals global best operational practices.
Kim Fejfer, CEO, APM Terminals International, based in The Hague, Netherlands stated "Our vision is to offer our customers more options and solutions in the Straits of Gibraltar giving them a competitive edge in world markets. The new terminal expands our global terminal portfolio in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes."
Martin Poulsen, Vice President, APM Terminals Europe Region, based in Rotterdam stated "Morocco’s proximity to Europe’s 400 million consumer market will create a new gateway to trade. Etienne Rocher, Managing Director, APM Terminals Tangier added "We have worked closely with the Government of Morocco through the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA) - established in order to secure interest from the world’s leading operators and fast track Tanger-Med’s overall project timeline - and with our partner, the Akwa Group to build and deliver on time this new container terminal. We are creating new jobs and opportunities, bringing in foreign investment and starting a new chapter in the West Mediterranean market." 300 jobs have already been created and 700 are expected to be created by the end of 2007. 98% of all jobs are expected to be held by Moroccan nationals. The port project is tied to the largest ever infrastructure project in Morocco that includes new highways, railway lines and other infrastructures.
Said Elhadi, Chairman of the Executive Board of TMSA, commented: "The opening of Tanger Med port’s first container terminal according to the timeline display’s Morocco’s capacity to implement large scale infrastructural projects in a due manner. It also highlights the quality of the partnership between Tanger Med Port Authority and its world class partner APM Terminals. Our vision is to take advantage of Tanger Med port’s key location at the crossroads of East-West and North-South maritime routes while partnering with leaders in the field to benefit from their world-class services and international best operational practices. The launch of the activities of the first container terminal is setting the ground for Tanger Med port to become an important container hub leading to the development of a successful large scale logistic and industrial platform in the North of Morocco".
APM Terminals, with corporate headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, is a leading global container terminal owner and operator with operations at more than 45 terminals, serving approximately 60 shipping lines. The facilities generated a throughput of 28.4 million TEU in 2006.
APM Terminals Tangier S.A. was established in March 2005 and partners with the Akwa Group of Morocco to combine global/local expertise for customers. The partnership is a 90%/10% agreement between APM Terminals/Akwa Group.
Akwa was founded in the end of the 1950’s and today has a global turnover of 1.5 billion euros. The company’s headquarters is located in Casablanca. Akwa has 2000 employees in the kingdom of Morocco. Akwa Group includes 40 companies grouped in four complementary activities: Fuel and Lubricants, Gas, Fluids and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications). Akwa has a long experience in partnering with huge foreign groups including: Elf Aquitaine, Shell, Telefonica and Northern Telecom.
Strategically-located on one of the world’s most important shipping arteries, the terminal will offer importers and exporters a new gateway to world markets.
Over 200 vessels a day pass through the Straits of Gibraltar as they transit on north-south and east-west liner trade routes. Shipping lines will benefit from Tangier’s direct access to the main shipping lane, a deepwater port capable of handling the largest container ships in the world, the newest, most advanced container handling equipment and APM Terminals global best operational practices.
Kim Fejfer, CEO, APM Terminals International, based in The Hague, Netherlands stated "Our vision is to offer our customers more options and solutions in the Straits of Gibraltar giving them a competitive edge in world markets. The new terminal expands our global terminal portfolio in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes."
Martin Poulsen, Vice President, APM Terminals Europe Region, based in Rotterdam stated "Morocco’s proximity to Europe’s 400 million consumer market will create a new gateway to trade. Etienne Rocher, Managing Director, APM Terminals Tangier added "We have worked closely with the Government of Morocco through the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA) - established in order to secure interest from the world’s leading operators and fast track Tanger-Med’s overall project timeline - and with our partner, the Akwa Group to build and deliver on time this new container terminal. We are creating new jobs and opportunities, bringing in foreign investment and starting a new chapter in the West Mediterranean market." 300 jobs have already been created and 700 are expected to be created by the end of 2007. 98% of all jobs are expected to be held by Moroccan nationals. The port project is tied to the largest ever infrastructure project in Morocco that includes new highways, railway lines and other infrastructures.
Said Elhadi, Chairman of the Executive Board of TMSA, commented: "The opening of Tanger Med port’s first container terminal according to the timeline display’s Morocco’s capacity to implement large scale infrastructural projects in a due manner. It also highlights the quality of the partnership between Tanger Med Port Authority and its world class partner APM Terminals. Our vision is to take advantage of Tanger Med port’s key location at the crossroads of East-West and North-South maritime routes while partnering with leaders in the field to benefit from their world-class services and international best operational practices. The launch of the activities of the first container terminal is setting the ground for Tanger Med port to become an important container hub leading to the development of a successful large scale logistic and industrial platform in the North of Morocco".
APM Terminals, with corporate headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, is a leading global container terminal owner and operator with operations at more than 45 terminals, serving approximately 60 shipping lines. The facilities generated a throughput of 28.4 million TEU in 2006.
APM Terminals Tangier S.A. was established in March 2005 and partners with the Akwa Group of Morocco to combine global/local expertise for customers. The partnership is a 90%/10% agreement between APM Terminals/Akwa Group.
Akwa was founded in the end of the 1950’s and today has a global turnover of 1.5 billion euros. The company’s headquarters is located in Casablanca. Akwa has 2000 employees in the kingdom of Morocco. Akwa Group includes 40 companies grouped in four complementary activities: Fuel and Lubricants, Gas, Fluids and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications). Akwa has a long experience in partnering with huge foreign groups including: Elf Aquitaine, Shell, Telefonica and Northern Telecom.