Morocco Allocates $1.3 Billion to Modernize Transportation Infrastructure

Of the 13 billion, 1.8 billion will be dedicated to the ministry’s investments and 11.2 billion to the investments of the public institutions attached to it, including Royal Air Maroc, the minister said, during the presentation of the ministry’s draft annex budget before the members of the Commission on Basic Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment and Sustainable Development at the House of Representatives.

In detail, 7.346 billion dirhams will be injected into the air transport sector, including 3.7 billion dirhams for Royal Air Maroc’s investments. Rail transport, on the other hand, will benefit from an investment of 4.184 billion dirhams. This amount does not include investments related to network development and equipment acquisition, planned as part of the contract with the National Railways Office (ONCF) at a total cost of 87 billion dirhams for the 2025-2030 period.

"About 3 billion dirhams will be invested in 2025 for the development of infrastructure and rail operations," said Abdessamad Kayouh, revealing the record performance achieved in the rail sector over the first nine months of 2024. A total of 55 million passengers is expected by the end of the year, an increase of 4% compared to 2023. The same trend is observed for freight transport, with more than 15 million tons transported, an increase of 33% compared to the previous year.

The government will continue its efforts to develop the air transport sector, the government member also affirmed, adding that a particular emphasis will be placed on the revival and development of domestic flights in Morocco. Over the first eight months of 2024, Moroccan airports recorded a significant volume of traffic, with 21 million passengers transported through more than 158,000 flights, an increase of 18.6% compared to the same period in 2023, the minister reports.

As for road transport, the ongoing projects will continue, the official hinted, announcing among other things the continuation of studies for the development of a national charter for the development of sustainable and inclusive mobility, the programming of a study for the development of an support plan for the implementation of the provisions of law 30.05 relating to the transport of dangerous goods by road. The implementation of a new road safety action plan for 2025-2030 and support for road transport professionals to help them cope with the rise in fuel prices are also planned.