The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved €205 million in financing for Morocco to support the implementation of the Railway Infrastructure Development Support Project (PADIF), aimed at expanding the country's high-speed rail network and modernizing key railway infrastructure.
The funding, approved during a board meeting in Abidjan on Wednesday, will help strengthen the Kenitra-Marrakech railway corridor, one of Morocco's busiest transport routes, which carries a significant share of the country's passenger and freight traffic, the AfDB said in a statement.
According to the bank, the financing will support the extension of Morocco's high-speed rail line while upgrading the conventional railway infrastructure along the strategic corridor, improving both capacity and operational efficiency.
The project is expected to enhance connectivity between Morocco's major economic and urban centers, promote more sustainable mobility, and strengthen territorial integration by facilitating faster and more reliable transport services.
The AfDB said the investment will also encourage a greater shift toward environmentally friendly transport while generating economic benefits through shorter travel times and reduced logistics costs.
"By combining the extension of the high-speed rail line with upgrading existing infrastructure, this operation will support the expected increase in passenger and freight traffic, facilitate trade flows and reduce journey duration. Ultimately, it will bolster Morocco's logistics competitiveness and reinforce its standing as a strategic hub linking Europe and Africa," said Achraf Tarsim, the AfDB Group's Country Manager for Morocco.
The project includes the procurement of railway equipment to modernize infrastructure along the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor and around the Casablanca rail hub. It also provides for the supply of new rails and track switches for both the conventional network and the high-speed line, with the aim of increasing capacity and improving long-term operational performance.
In addition, PADIF includes a project management support component covering engineering supervision, project implementation, and the monitoring and evaluation of results to ensure the effective delivery of the investment.
The operation is aligned with the AfDB Group's High 5 strategic priorities and its 2024-2029 Country Strategy Paper for Morocco. It also supports Morocco's New Development Model and the Rail 2040 strategy, which seeks to modernize and expand the Kingdom's national railway network.
Since beginning operations in Morocco in 1978, the African Development Bank has mobilized nearly €15 billion to finance more than 150 projects and programs across strategic sectors, including transport, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, governance, social protection, and financial services.
