Rabat: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved £205 million in financing for Morocco to support the implementation of the Rail Infrastructure Development Support Project (PADIF). The operation aims to enhance the capacity and operational performance of the Kenitra-Marrakech railway corridor, a key route for the country's passenger and freight traffic. This will be achieved by extending the high-speed rail line and upgrading the existing railway infrastructure along this crucial corridor.
According to Emirates News Agency, the project seeks to improve travel flow between Morocco's major economic and urban centers, promoting sustainable mobility and boosting territorial connectivity. Additionally, the initiative is expected to aid the transition to more environmentally friendly transport modes, leading to economic benefits such as reduced travel times and lower logistics costs.
Achraf Tarsim, Head of the African Development Bank Group's Country Office in Morocco, highlighted the project's significance: 'By combining the extension of the high-speed rail line with the modernisation of existing infrastructure, this operation will help accommodate growing passenger and freight traffic, facilitate trade flows, and reduce travel times. In the long term, it will strengthen Morocco's logistics competitiveness and reinforce its role as a strategic hub linking Europe and Africa.'
The operation aligns with the African Development Bank Group's Four Cardinal Points and the institution's 2024-2029 Country Strategy Paper for Morocco. It also supports Morocco's New Development Model and the Rail 2040 Plan, aimed at modernising the national railway network.
Since 1978, the African Development Bank Group has mobilised nearly £15 billion to finance over 150 projects and programmes in Morocco. Its interventions cover strategic sectors, including transport, social protection, water and sanitation, energy, agriculture, governance, and the financial sector.