Morocco will spend 9.6 billion dollars to connect 43 cities by 2040

Morocco's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, this week unveiled an ambitious 96 billion dirhams (9.6 billion dollars) investment plan to transform the country's rail infrastructure by 2030.

Kayouh announced the initiative while addressing the House of Representatives at a session of the Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment and Sustainable Development Commission in Rabat and described it as a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving Morocco's rail transport system. 

The minister revealed that the government will allocate 53 billion dirhams - about $5.3 billion - for the construction of a high-speed railway line connecting Kenitra to Marrakech. In addition, part of the budget will be earmarked for upgrading regional rail transport on existing networks. 

In addition, the government has earmarked 29 billion dirhams (approximately 2.9 billion dollars) for the purchase of 18 high-speed trains and 150 multi-service trains. Another 14 billion dirhams - about 1.4 billion dollars - has also been earmarked for the construction or renovation of some 40 railway stations to ensure the efficiency of the national network. 

These initiatives are part of a comprehensive railway development plan that will run until 2040 and is aimed at significantly boosting the country's connectivity. According to the minister, the long-term vision aims to connect 43 cities, up from the current 23, and reach 87% of the population, up from 51% currently covered.

‘This ambitious project will revolutionise Morocco's transport infrastructure,’ said Kayouh, who also added that the plan envisages connecting 12 international airports and 12 ports to the rail network, a significant increase from the current coverage of one airport and six ports. In terms of economic impact, Kayouh pointed out that the project is expected to generate an estimated 300,000 new jobs throughout the country.