South Korea Eyes Morocco’s High-Speed Rail Expansion: Agadir Line Attracts Global Interest

On Monday, Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics, held a working meeting with Yeonjean Yoon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Morocco, at the headquarters of his department. On the agenda of the discussions was the project to extend the High-Speed Line (LGV) to Agadir, for which the technical, economic and environmental studies are already at an advanced stage. The two officials reaffirmed their willingness to continue this momentum and explore new prospects for cooperation. The planning studies should be completed during this year. All these studies will make it possible to gather the necessary data to ensure the feasibility and sustainability of the project, while respecting safety and environmental protection standards.

Korea is showing increasing interest in the Moroccan rail sector. In February, a contract was signed between Hyundai Rotem and ONCF for the delivery of two-level electric trains. This fund will be invested in the design of new trains reaching a speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The supply of these trains by the Korean company will contribute to connecting 40 cities and strengthening inter-urban transport networks.

In July, Jeong Hoon Kim, head of real solutions at Hyundai Rotem, praised the business climate in Morocco. According to him, the country is becoming a key destination for foreign industrial investments. The official said he was impressed by the development achieved by the Moroccan sectors in recent years and confided that Hyundai Rotem has been following the Moroccan market for ten years. Morocco has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Hoon Kim. For him, the kingdom represents a "long-term strategic market for Hyundai Rotem".

Hoon Kim also expressed his interest in Morocco’s 2040 Rail Plan, which he described as an "ambitious roadmap". The plan aims to extend Morocco’s rail network, and Hyundai Rotem is ready to actively contribute to the implementation of the program, he said. And he added: "This is a model of a win-win cooperation that we wish to replicate".