Agadir – Morocco plans to invest MAD 134 billion ($13.53 billion) in developing and modernizing its railway network by 2030, with projects ranging from high-speed rail expansion to the acquisition of new trains, Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh said today.
The investment program includes extending the high-speed railway line from Kenitra to Marrakech, connecting the Nador West Med port to the rail network, and expanding local train services in major urban areas.
Kayouh outlined the plans during the second International Forum on Financing Railway Projects in Africa in Rabat. Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Zine El Abidine Britel delivered the minister’s speech on his behalf.
The program also provides for the acquisition of 168 new trains and further upgrades to the existing railway infrastructure to maintain service quality and improve network performance.
The government aims to meet rising demand for transport, improve passenger mobility, and strengthen rail connections between economic centers as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco seeks sustainable financing for rail projects
Kayouh said the government had established a contractual framework with the National Railway Office (ONCF) to define investment priorities, financing arrangements, and the commitments of the different parties.
The framework accompanies efforts to mobilize funding, including through green financing instruments and stronger financial risk management mechanisms.
The minister also called for closer cooperation among African governments, railway operators, investors, and financial institutions to direct resources toward projects with the greatest development potential.
He also stressed the importance of securing funding not only for railway construction but also for operations and maintenance to ensure reliable services over the long term.
Kayouh called on regional and international development banks to expand their support through financing arrangements suited to the long investment cycles of railway projects. He also advocated guarantee mechanisms that could encourage greater private-sector participation.
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