RABAT, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The authorities of new Moroccan port Tanger-Med and three European ports have entered into a cooperation agreement with the aim of spurring the development of trade and strengthening security, according to the official Moroccan News Agency (MAP).
The agreement, which was signed on Thursday in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier, will boost the cooperation between the Tanger-Med port and the ports of Algeciras in Spain, Calais in France and Dover in Britain.
"This agreement will close cooperation of the four ports on topics related to commercial development and security as well as in the management of roll-on/roll-off terminals," said the presidents of the four ports in a statement after signing the agreement.
"We want to establish fruitful cooperation for the benefits of the two straits, Calais-Dover and Tanger-Algeciras," Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the Calais Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters at a press conference.
"The agreement will help us consolidate cooperative actions in tackling common challenges such as ensuring the security of port facilities and passenger traffic," said the Frenchman, who added that "the signing of the agreement will also help boost the ties between the concerned countries."
"The safety of the four ports is also linked to the fight against illegal immigration and terrorism," one of the members of signatory delegations told reporters with anonymity, adding: "This is another important area where we are expected to strengthen our cooperation.
"If the port of Tanger-Med will help block the sea routes used to ferry illegal immigrants, it will be rendering a great service to the European continent," said the president of the chamber.
Speaking on the same occasion, Said El Hadi, president of the Tangier-Med port, said the "security and safety" of people and goods as well as the "preservation of the ecology" were "among some of the concerns of the four partners."
Moroccan authorities have projected that the port, which is gradually being put into service, will in the long run handle an annual traffic of more than 7 million passengers and 700,000 trucks traveling between the two sides of the Mediterranean.
