Assahafa.com
Morocco and Japan have signed a supplementary grant agreement to reinforce the redevelopment of the Souiria K’dima fishing village.
This grant looks to expand a long-standing cooperation project focused on modernizing artisanal fishing infrastructure and strengthening the coastal economy.
Secretary of State signed the Exchange of Notes and the additional Grant Agreement in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Onishi Yohei, and JICA’s Resident Representative in Morocco, Kawabata Tomoyuki.
The new grant supplements an initial financing package whose Exchange of Notes was signed in Safi on January 22, followed by the Grant Agreement in Agadir on February 6.
The initial funding amounted to 2.003 billion Japanese yen, or around MAD 133 million. With the additional contribution, total financing now stands at 2.505 billion yen, approximately MAD 157 million.
The funds are dedicated to the redevelopment of the Souiria K’dima fishermen’s village, originally established in 1998 through Moroccan-Japanese cooperation.
The project falls under Japan’s Non-Refundable Financial Cooperation framework and aims to equip Morocco with a new-generation fishing village that is fully integrated into its economic and territorial environment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Driouich said the agreement seeks to support the redevelopment of the Souiria K’dima landing point and turn it into a modern facility aligned with the dynamics of Morocco’s blue economy.
Souiria K’dima anchors new coastal strategy
According to the Secretary of State, the objective is to equip Morocco’s coastline with structured landing points and fishing villages at regular intervals. Souiria K’dima was selected as a pilot project intended to become a lasting component of the blue economy and a socio-economic hub at the regional level.
For his part, Onishi, who is on an official visit to Morocco, welcomed the partnership and recalled that the port, developed 27 years ago with Japanese support, stands as “a strong symbol of Moroccan-Japanese cooperation.”
He said the new phase of the project will improve both quality and production while strengthening the site’s tourism dimension, reinforcing its role as a key economic center for the wider region.
The additional grant will allow for the full realization of all project components in line with the objectives set at its launch, ensuring effective, sustainable implementation that meets high standards of quality and functionality.
The redevelopment of Souiria K’dima contributes to one of the strategic pillars of the Halieutis Plan through the development of modern, well-equipped artisanal fishing ports that guarantee product quality from landing to consumption.
It also aligns with Japan’s cooperation priorities with Morocco, particularly in boosting economic competitiveness through higher productivity in the fisheries sector, improved economic infrastructure, and the diversification of local activities.
In the grand scheme, the project aims to generate greater added value for artisanal fishing products, improve working conditions for fishermen, and integrate new economic activities linked to the area’s port heritage.
This new signing confirms the shared determination of Morocco and Japan to continue strengthening cooperation in maritime fisheries, in support of sustainable coastal development and improved living conditions for fishing communities.
Source: Morocco word news
