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Tangier, Morocco – May 30, 2025 – The MEDPorts Forum 2025 officially opened in Tangier, with opening speech delivered by Pino Musolino, President of the MEDPorts Association and Mehdi Tazi-Riffi, CEO of Tanger Med Port Authority. The opening remarks set the tone for a dynamic day of dialogue, cooperation, and forward-looking strategies aimed at enhancing resilience and sustainability across Mediterranean ports.

The Forum featured a powerful keynote by Johan-Paul Verschuure, Director of Rebel Ports and Logistics, who explored the impact of global disruptions on the Mediterranean port. Drawing from the latest trade and traffic data, he highlighted how geopolitical tensions, rerouting through the Suez Canal, and transatlantic tariff shifts are reshaping port operations, vessel deployment, and container throughput across the region.

Mr. Verschuure underscored the need for adaptive infrastructure, flexible logistics strategies, and green port initiatives as essential tools to mitigate volatility. He stressed that alternative fuels and digital innovation will be key competitive differentiators as Mediterranean ports strive to maintain resilience amid uncertain global trends.

His insights provided a strategic lens on how ports can proactively prepare not just for recovery, but for transformation in a world where supply chain disruptions are the new normal.

The first session of the MEDPorts Forum 2025 brought together high-level speakers from across the region to examine the disruptive forces shaping the Mediterranean port landscape in the current decade. Moderated under the theme “Waves of Change,” this session focused on resilience, innovation, and strategic cooperation in the face of geopolitical, climate, and economic pressures.

Mr. Idriss Aarabi, Managing Director of Tanger Med Port, opened the discussion with a comprehensive overview of global supply chain disruptions since 2020. He highlighted the compounded effects of lockdowns, container imbalances, and Red Sea insecurity, while also showcasing Tanger Med’s proactive investments in OPS infrastructure, green energy, and international collaboration to ensure long-term port resilience.

Mr. Gerardo Landaluce, Chairman of Algeciras Port Authority, emphasized the strategic significance of the Strait of Gibraltar and presented ongoing efforts to improve rail connectivity, last-mile logistics, and compliance with the new Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) coming into force in May 2025. He stressed the importance of collective action across Mediterranean ports to turn regulatory pressure into opportunity.

Mr. David Magro, CEO of Malta Freeport Corporation, discussed how Malta is navigating rising environmental regulations, including the EU Emissions Trading System and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive. His presentation outlined recent infrastructure expansions and sustainability projects, such as the installation of high-voltage shore connections and a €56M terminal extension designed to reduce residential impact and support LNG-fueled vessels.

Mrs. Amal Louis, Head of Business Development at the Port of Marseille, reflected on the interconnected risks of climate change, digital disruption, and shifting trade flows. She called for stronger Mediterranean solidarity, proposing collaborative pilot projects focused on decarbonization and digital innovation to build shared resilience.

Mrs. Ana Rumbeu, Training Director at Valenciaport Foundation, underlined the role of capacity building and knowledge sharing to equip Mediterranean port professionals with the skills needed to adapt to technological, environmental, and geopolitical transformations.

A compelling keynote was delivered by Maite Román, member of the MEDPorts Women Committee, chaired by Valenciaport Foundation. Her address highlighted the vital role of gender inclusion in the long-term sustainability and resilience of Mediterranean ports.

Presenting the committee’s vision, Ms. Román emphasized that “a more inclusive port is a stronger port.” The committee seeks to promote leadership opportunities for women, foster professional development, and create a Mediterranean-wide support network that engages both women and men in shaping a more diverse and dynamic port sector.

She presented concrete initiatives, including mentoring and job-shadowing programs, STEM engagement for young women, and diversity audits aimed at closing the gender gap across port institutions. The Committee’s first international forum, held in Valencia in early May 2025, served as a milestone platform for experience sharing and dialogue around maritime governance through a gender lens.

The keynote served as both a call to action and a powerful reminder: equity and inclusion are not only ethical imperatives, they are strategic advantages in building future-ready ports.

The second session of the MEDPorts Forum 2025 focused on how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, automation, and digital integration, are redefining efficiency in port operations across the Mediterranean.

Prof. Alaa M. Morsy, Dean of the Port Training Institute at AASTMT, introduced the session with a forward-looking presentation on how sustainability and resilience must go hand-in-hand with digital transformation. He emphasized the critical role of smart port technologies, green infrastructure, and capacity building in preparing Mediterranean ports for climate, economic, and technological shocks. Examples from Valencia, Piraeus, and Livorno illustrated best practices in hydrogen deployment, IoT-enabled logistics, and circular construction.

Mr. Alejandro Martínez, Head of Institutional Relations, Marketing, and Commercial Promotion at the Port of Málaga, presented POSIDONIA, a fully integrated digital port management and community platform. Designed in line with Málaga’s 2030 strategic plan, this system enables seamless interconnectivity among port stakeholders, enhanced data traceability, and a transition to paperless operations. With modules covering everything from berth scheduling to customs coordination, the platform reflects the port’s vision for an interoperable and citizen-inclusive digital ecosystem.

Mr. Ridouan Boulaich, Director of Director of Information System at Tanger Med Port Authority, concluded the session with a powerful overview of the strategic role of ports in the digital era. He outlined key disruptive technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT, while also addressing the serious challenges posed by cybersecurity threats, vendor lock-in, and talent shortages. Emphasizing that ports must lead ecosystem-wide digital collaboration, he called for the development of robust governance frameworks and resilient tech infrastructure to support sustainable, secure global trade.

In a highly anticipated keynote slot, Mr. Sergi Sauri, Director of CETMO (Centre for Transportation Studies for the Western Mediterranean), unveiled the first findings of a comparative study on port governance models across MEDPorts member countries. This study, financed by MEDPorts and developed through surveys and interviews, marks an important step toward better understanding the organizational frameworks shaping Mediterranean port systems.

Mr. Sauri highlighted the diversity of governance structures in the region, ranging from ministry-led models to independent port authorities and hybrid approaches. While port ownership remains predominantly public, he noted significant variation in how ports are regulated, financed, and managed.

A key insight shared during the keynote was that over 60% of the surveyed countries operate under a landlord model, with port authorities generating revenue through concession fees and service charges. The role of the state remains central, particularly in infrastructure development and strategic oversight.

This evidence-based presentation set the stage for further discussions on harmonization, regulatory cooperation, and how governance choices impact port competitiveness, environmental responsibility, and investment capacity. It was a call for deeper collaboration, data-sharing, and mutual benchmarking among ports across the basin.

The MEDPorts Forum 2025 concluded with a forward-looking session dedicated to multimodality, a cornerstone of connectivity and decarbonization in the Mediterranean region. The session brought together experts driving real-world change in intermodal logistics, infrastructure integration, and sustainable transport.

Eduard Rodés, Director of Escola Europea, opened the session by presenting practical models and training methodologies that foster seamless intermodal operations. He introduced real case studies and simulation tools—like the Port Virtual Lab—that empower logistics professionals to understand modal complementarities and apply efficient solutions tailored to cargo type, infrastructure, and sustainability goals. Rodés emphasized that training and cooperation are key to building a truly interconnected and resilient logistics network across the Mediterranean.

Anouar Harrak, Director of the Port of Casablanca and Regional Director at ANP, highlighted Morocco’s national strategy to position Casablanca as a multimodal hub linking sea, road, and rail transport. His presentation detailed significant investments in port infrastructure, digital processes, hinterland logistics platforms like Zenata, and the use of green technologies. Harrak showcased the Port of Casablanca’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing modal shift, and aligning logistics development with climate and economic goals.

As the curtains closed on the MEDPorts Forum 2025 in Tangier, one message resonated clearly: the future of Mediterranean ports lies in collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility