Rabat – Morocco is steadily strengthening its position as one of Africa’s leading transportation and logistics hubs, driven by major investments in rail, road, maritime, and airport infrastructure. Speaking in Rabat on Thursday during the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, French Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot described the Kingdom as a “continental mobility hub”, highlighting the country’s remarkable progress in modernizing its transport network.
Following talks with Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, Tabarot praised Morocco’s high-speed rail (HSR) project as an outstanding achievement in engineering, rolling stock, and infrastructure development.
“The high-speed rail project is remarkable in every respect. We are particularly grateful for the confidence placed in French companies, which are playing a key role in this extraordinary railway project,” he said.
The French minister emphasized that the Morocco-France partnership on the high-speed rail network reflects a deep level of mutual trust and showcases the strong industrial cooperation between the two countries. He also highlighted the innovative financing mechanisms developed jointly by Morocco and France to support the expansion of the Kingdom’s railway infrastructure.
Beyond the railway sector, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in road transport through an increase in bilateral and transit transport permits, as well as measures to facilitate the mobility of Moroccan professional drivers involved in international road transport, supporting the growing trade flows between both nations.
The two ministers also explored new opportunities in the maritime sector, including the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and cooperation on the modernization of Morocco’s merchant shipping industry.
Airport infrastructure was another major topic of discussion. Both sides stressed the importance of renewing the comprehensive cooperation agreement signed in 2015 between Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) and Aéroports de Paris (ADP). The renewed partnership aims to support airport modernization projects while promoting the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.
For his part, Minister Abdessamad Kayouh reaffirmed the strength of the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between Morocco and France. He noted that bilateral cooperation continues to evolve in line with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have placed transport and logistics among the key pillars of economic cooperation.
Both ministers agreed that developing human capital will be essential to sustaining future infrastructure projects. They underlined the need to invest in centers of excellence, engineering education, and specialized training programs, particularly in railway engineering, to prepare a highly qualified workforce capable of supporting Morocco’s ambitious transport ambitions.
As Morocco continues to expand its high-speed rail network, modernize its ports and airports, and strengthen multimodal connectivity, the Kingdom is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic gateway linking Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean, reinforcing its role as a major regional logistics and mobility hub.
