ACI and Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment & Water Sign MoU to Strengthen Concrete Standards and Technical Collaboration

ACI partners with Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment & Water to strengthen concrete standards, improve technical collaboration, and promote sustainable construction practices.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco to deepen cooperation in concrete technology, standards, and knowledge exchange. The agreement was formalised during the Fall 2025 ACI Concrete Convention held in Baltimore, Maryland, a global gathering of experts, researchers, and industry stakeholders.

The MoU was signed by ACI Executive Vice President Frederick H. Grubbe, ACI President Maria Juenger, and Abdelfetah SAHIBI, Secretary General of Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water. The partnership establishes a structured framework for sharing technical expertise and strengthening best practices in concrete construction across both organisations.

Under the agreement, ACI and the Ministry will collaborate through publications, conferences, committee participation, certification programmes, digital resource sharing, and other joint activities aimed at improving the quality, safety, and sustainability of concrete infrastructure.

Maria Juenger said the partnership reflects the growing need for global cooperation in advancing concrete practices. She noted that concrete remains the world’s most widely used building material, making international knowledge exchange crucial for progress. She added that ACI looks forward to supporting Morocco’s infrastructure ambitions while learning from the country’s ongoing advancements in building technologies.

Secretary General Abdelfetah SAHIBI described the MoU as a significant step towards strengthening technical cooperation between the two institutions. He emphasised that the collaboration aligns with Morocco’s long-term vision for resilient and sustainable infrastructure and will help harmonise national standards with internationally recognised practices.

The partnership is expected to enhance Morocco’s concrete construction capabilities while contributing to ACI’s global mission of improving concrete knowledge and promoting innovation in the built environment.

ACI Delegation Visits Morocco: Advancing Codes, Standards, and Strategic Partnerships

The ACI representatives, Ahmed Mhenna, Director MENA, and Distinguished Engineer Khaled Nahlawi, recently concluded a productive business visit to Morocco. They engaged with four key entities to strengthen and expand ACI’s partnerships with Moroccan government and professional organizations.

At the Ministry of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy in Rabat, the team discussed ongoing collaboration on codes and standards, including ACI code adoption in various regions and the Chapter’s efforts to translate the 318-19 code into French. Conversations focused on how ACI can support the ministry’s initiatives by providing necessary resources to assist their work.

 

In Casablanca, ACI met with LPEE (Le Laboratoire Public d'Essais et d'Etudes), where strong interest was expressed in leveraging ACI resources for emerging materials in Moroccan construction market such as GFRP, FRP, and steel fiber. Certification and standards emerged as promising areas for future collaboration.

 

A detailed meeting with the Ministry of Equipment and Water in Rabat centered on advancing cooperation through the signed MOU, ACI code adoption processes, translation, and licensing. The Ministry and ACI agreed to hold a special session on ACI codes and standards for selected Moroccan stakeholders on October 25, 2026, ahead of the GFRP workshop scheduled in Rabat on October 26, 2026, organized in collaboration with NEx, ACI, and the Ministry.

 

Finally, discussions with AMIB (Moroccan Association of Concrete Industry) in Rabat identified opportunities to increase awareness of the ACI 319 precast code among members and engineers, laying the groundwork for future engagement.