African Development Bank (AfDB) will finance the process

Marruecos modernizará su sector ferroviario

photo_camera AFP/FADEL SENNA - King Mohammed VI of Morocco arrives at the inauguration of the Agdal train station in the capital (Rabat) for the new LGV (high-speed train) line on November 17, 2018.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that it will allocate 300 million euros to Morocco's National Office of Railways (ONCF). This amount will be used to modernise the railway sector in the Maghreb country.  Specifically, the project will focus on increasing the capacity of the railway line between Tangiers and Marrakech. The number of tracks will be increased, signalling will be modernised and modern structures such as the new Casa-Port station in Casablanca will be built.  

"The AfDB is a historical partner, who have always supported the ONCF (Morocco's National Office of Railways) since the 1990s", said Mohamed Rabie Khlie, director general of the ONCF. "In addition to financing at a preferential rate, we have benefited from technical support from the Bank's teams," he added. The move comes in the wake of the 2020 data on the use of rail transport. During the previous year, more than 38 million people took the train, increasing the number of users by 25% in a decade. The aim of this project is to meet citizens' need for mobility, which has increased due to Morocco's economic, industrial and tourism growth. “Through these projects, we hope to double or even triple the number of passengers in the network", Khlie said.

Sector ferroviario marroquí

Over the last decade, the Moroccan National Railway Office has developed ambitious plans in the sector. In 2018 Morocco inaugurated the first high-speed train on the African continent connecting Tangier and Casablanca, two economic hotspots in the kingdom. The train linking the two cities, which are 340 kilometres apart, reaches a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour. The journey takes just one hour and ten minutes. The project has also created 2,500 direct and indirect jobs. The railways have also been doubled in the direction of Marrakech, three routes have been built between Kenitra and Casablanca, and the operating system has been modernised. As Ahmed Bouhaltit, ONCF's director of engineering, points out, the system is “today much smarter, and much more efficient”. And for users, journeys are "more comfortable, safer and on time".

Tren de alta velocidad Marruecos

In addition to seeking benefits for Moroccan citizens, this project aims to boost foreign investment in the country and "support the socio-economic development of the country", said the ONCF director general. The project could also stimulate the development of the sector in Africa, which in turn would help boost the African economy. Morocco is experiencing significant economic development. During 2020, 84,000 businesses were created, despite the coronavirus pandemic. In March, Rabat launched a centre for training in nuclear science and technology. Internationally, Rabat also continues to promote its economy, while strengthening diplomatic relations. In March, Morocco's Manager partnered with a Chinese company to mine gold in Sudan. Beijing has funded infrastructure in Morocco and included the country in the Silk Road Initiative. It has also agreed to cooperate with Nigeria to set up a chemical plant, strengthening South-South cooperation on the continent.

Mohammed VI

Morocco is also developing diplomatic and economic ties across the Atlantic. The US remains a key ally of King Mohammed VI, a relationship that has strengthened since Washington recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Since then, the US has participated in economic, marketing and artificial intelligence training summits for Moroccan companies. They have also conducted joint military operations such as the Lighting Handshake or African Lion 2021, as well as cooperating on counterterrorism. Rabat has allies in other American countries such as Cuba, Mexico and Colombia.

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