Transport: Abdessamad Kayouh sets his priorities for the horizon 2030

Following his reappointment as Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh brought together the leaders of the main public establishments in the sector to set the priorities for the next stage. The agenda included: acceleration of railway and airport projects, development of Royal Air Maroc, modernization of road transport, and reflection on the constitution of a national maritime fleet. The schedule is set for the horizon of 2030, but the ambitions go beyond the scope of the World Cup. Meeting on Saturday at the ministry's headquarters in Rabat, with the heads of public establishments and companies, as well as the directors of the various directorates of his department, Abdessamad Kayouh called for the acceleration of the realization of major infrastructure projects. The stated objective is to translate the royal call for a "Morocco moving at a single speed" into reality. This meeting took place after the renewal of King Mohammed VI's trust in the minister. Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Director General of the National Railways Office (ONCF), Adel El Fakir, Director General of the National Airports Office (ONDA), the heads of the National Transport and Logistics Company (SNTL), the Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development (AMDL), and the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), as well as Abdelhamid Addou, President and CEO of Royal Air Maroc (RAM), were also present. The Secretary General and Inspector General of the ministry also participated in the discussions. Rail and air in the forefront Among the priority issues is the investment program of the ONCF, the total cost of which reaches 134 billion dirhams by 2030, including complementary programs. The plan provides for the extension of the high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech, with a further extension planned to Agadir. It also includes the acquisition of 168 new trains, the development of local rail services in large urban agglomerations, and the connection of the Port of Nador West Med to the rail network. In the air sector, the ministry intends to continue the deployment of the "Airports 2030" strategy. With 38 billion dirhams over the period 2025-2030, the investment program of the ONDA provides for the construction of a new terminal at Mohammed VI Airport in Casablanca as well as the extension of the airports of Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez. All of this must allow to increase the passenger capacity of airport infrastructures to 80 million passengers per year. The development of air transport also involves strengthening Royal Air Maroc. Abdessamad Kayouh confirmed the continuation of support for the national airline's development program, as part of the contract-program concluded with the State for the horizon of 2037. These investments constitute one of the major aspects of Morocco's preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which the kingdom will co-organize with Spain and Portugal. They are also part of a broader strategy to strengthen the transport capacities and connect the country's major economic poles. A national maritime fleet in sight Maritime transport is also among the projects the ministry wishes to advance. Abdessamad Kayouh recalled that a strategic reflection had been initiated on the creation of a "strong and competitive" national commercial maritime fleet. In this perspective, the department organized the first National Maritime Assises in Tangier and carried out a study dedicated to setting up a system for monitoring maritime navigation on the southern Atlantic coast. The overall vision still needs to be specified and enriched in consultation with professionals and stakeholders before the end of the year. The announced orientations cover several areas: strengthening maritime training, expanding the employment opportunities for Moroccan sailors on foreign ships, and creating a maritime navigation monitoring center in the southern provinces. The ministry also plans to modernize the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and digitize its procedures. The ambition is to strengthen national capacities in commercial maritime transport, while the development of port and logistics infrastructures constitutes another axis of the kingdom's competitiveness strategy. Renewing the road fleet and reducing logistics costs Road transport is also among the priorities set by the minister. The department intends to continue the programs for renewing the professional vehicle fleet, accelerating digital transformation, and implementing the national road safety strategy for 2026-2030, the deployment of which falls under NARSA. In logistics, the emphasis will be on continuing the national strategy aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the sector. The ministry plans to accelerate the realization of logistics zones and platforms to reduce costs and consolidate Morocco's position as a regional and international hub. Beyond infrastructure projects, Abdessamad Kayouh announced a strengthening of the institutional capacities of the ministry as well as a reorganization of its structures. He called on the cadres of his department to maintain their mobilization around a new phase focused on the execution of projects and obtaining concrete results. "A Morocco moving at a single speed" In a statement to Hespress, the minister expressed his "great pride in this precious royal trust," following his reappointment by King Mohammed VI. He specified that the meeting allowed for the sharing of the necessary orientations for the effective implementation of the royal discourse in favor of a "Morocco moving at a single speed." Railway projects, the modernization of airports by 2030, and the development of the Royal Air Maroc fleet are, in his view, at the forefront of projects related to the World Cup preparations. The minister also insisted on the continuation of modernizing road transport, through the acceleration of vehicle renewal programs and the improvement of the integration and efficiency of the sector. Finally, he reaffirmed the desire to develop maritime transport, in accordance with royal directives calling for reflection on the creation of a strong and competitive national fleet. There are as many projects whose implementation must allow the transport sector to meet the upcoming international deadlines while strengthening the kingdom's logistical and economic capacities.