Speaking in an address, the minister underlined that railway development is today at the heart of national priorities as an essential lever to strengthen territorial connectivity, support the growth of mobility needs and uphold the logistical competitiveness objectives set by the New Development Model.
He recalled that Morocco is pursuing a profound transformation of its railway system, driven by major structural investments and an integrated vision aimed at modernizing infrastructure, diversifying services and sustainably improving mobility quality.
According to him, the efforts undertaken over the past two decades have elevated rail to the rank of a strategic sector, capable of meeting the growing expectations of citizens and the needs of economic operators.
Mr. Kayouh also highlighted the planned extension of the high speed network, which will cover four major regions of the Kingdom, as well as the development of RER type services in the metropolitan areas of Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech.
These projects, he indicated, will help reduce travel times, facilitate daily transportation and strengthen territorial cohesion, adding that the railway connection of the stadiums of Rabat, Marrakech and Benslimane is part of preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
For his part, the Deputy Director General of the National Railway Office (ONCF) and President of the MTI (Moroccan TraIndustry) railway cluster, Mohammed Smouni, underlined that this new edition of the Rail Industry Summit comes at a time marked by unprecedented national mobilization in favor of railway development.
This event, which welcomes more than 1,400 participants, brings together all branches of the railway industry, from high speed trains to signaling and safety technologies, thus confirming Morocco’s growing position as an emerging railway platform, he noted.
Furthermore, Mr. Smouni highlighted the industrial ambition carried by the Kingdom, in particular through the project to establish a railway production unit in Benguerir. This facility will manufacture wagons and equipment designed to meet the needs of the national market.
According to him, this initiative, based on purely Moroccan engineering, will make it possible to reach a local integration level of nearly 60 percent, thereby strengthening industrial sovereignty and positioning Morocco within global railway value chains.
He added that the development of this industrial ecosystem will be supported by a dynamic of training, research and innovation involving universities, engineering schools, research centers and private operators.
This synergy, he explained, will foster the emergence of a high performance railway industry capable of supporting major national projects, including the extension of the high speed network, regional services and future RER services in major metropolitan areas.
On the sidelines of the opening of RISM 2025, two memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed, illustrating the determination of institutional and industrial stakeholders to strengthen international cooperation and accelerate the structuring of the national railway ecosystem.
The first memorandum links the Morocco TraIndustry Cluster, represented by Mr. Smouni, to the Spanish Transport Association (AET), represented by its Vice President, Joudia Boujdaini.
This agreement aims to strengthen synergies between the Moroccan and Spanish railway ecosystems through the development of technological and industrial cooperation, the emergence of transnational supply chains, the exchange of expertise and best practices, as well as joint research and development projects.
It also covers continuous training for operators, digital innovation, energy transition and support for the development of Euro Mediterranean logistical corridors.
The second MoU, concluded between Mr. Smouni, the project leaders selected under the industrial chairs program and the representative of the steering committee, Mohamed Sedki, aims to finalize the structuring of industrial chairs dedicated to supporting applied research and innovation in the railway sector, prepare their official launch and define their governance methods.
It also provides for the establishment of a framework ensuring coherence, sustainability and continuity of the mechanism. The protocol, concluded for a period of three months, marks a decisive step in building an academic and scientific foundation that complements the industrial expansion of rail in Morocco.
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 4th edition of the Rail Industry Summit Morocco, organized by the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), MTI and Advanced Business Events (ABE), in partnership with ONCF, continues over two days at the Mohammed VI Exhibition Center in El Jadida.
Bringing together more than 250 companies from 20 countries and more than 1,000 participants, this platform for exchange and cooperation has established itself as a major meeting place for stakeholders in the railway sector.
With a program built around high level conferences, thematic workshops and business meetings, this event addresses key issues in the railway field, including major projects in Africa, infrastructure modernization, next generation railway technologies, sustainable mobility and human capital development.
Editorial team/le7tv