Transport: Abdessamad Kayouh sets his priorities for the horizon 2030

The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, convened leaders from key public establishments to set priorities for the transport sector, focusing on accelerating major infrastructure projects by 2030. The agenda included advancing railway and airport projects, developing Royal Air Maroc, modernizing road transport, and considering a national maritime fleet. This meeting followed the renewal of King Mohammed VI's trust in the minister.
Significant investment plans were outlined for both rail and air, including a 134 billion dirham investment program for ONCF by 2030, focusing on high-speed rail extensions and new train acquisitions. In the air sector, the Airports 2030 strategy involves investments to increase passenger capacity to 80 million annually and develop regional airports. Furthermore, support continues for Royal Air Maroc's development program through a 2037 contract.
The ministry also initiated reflections on establishing a national commercial maritime fleet, involving studies on navigation monitoring and planning for training and legal modernization. Road transport priorities involve renewing the vehicle fleet, accelerating digital transformation, and implementing road safety strategies. The overarching goal is to translate royal directives into action by strengthening transport capacities to meet international deadlines.

* Abdessamad Kayouh was appointed Minister of Transport and Logistics.
* A meeting was held in Rabat with leaders of public establishments and companies, and directors of departmental directorates.
* The agenda included accelerating railway and airport projects, developing Royal Air Maroc, modernizing road transport, and reflecting on a national maritime fleet.
* The schedule for these goals is set for the horizon of 2030.
* Mohamed Rabie Khlie (ONCF), Adel El Fakir (ONDA), SNTL, AMDL, and NARSA were present at the meeting.
* ONCF's investment program totals 134 billion dirhams by 2030.
* The railway plan includes extending the high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech, planned extension to Agadir, acquisition of 168 new trains, and connecting the Port of Nador West Med to the rail network.
* The Airports 2030 strategy involves a 38 billion dirham investment (2025-2030) for constructing a new terminal at Mohammed VI Airport in Casablanca and extending airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez.
* Royal Air Maroc's development program is supported via a contract with the State to 2037.
* A reflection was initiated on creating a "strong and competitive" national commercial maritime fleet.
* The ministry plans to strengthen maritime training, expand employment for Moroccan sailors, and create a maritime navigation monitoring center in southern provinces.
* Road transport priorities include renewing the professional vehicle fleet and implementing the road safety strategy for 2026-2030 under NARSA.

The narrative presents a structured effort to align Morocco's transport sector development with high-level national objectives, specifically tying infrastructure advancement—rail, air, and maritime—to broader geopolitical ambitions like the World Cup preparations. The central tension lies between ambitious, large-scale financial planning (e.g., 134 billion dirhams for rail) and the ongoing institutional capacity required to execute these complex changes.
A key pattern observed is the framing of concrete infrastructure development as a direct mechanism for fulfilling a royal vision ("Morocco moving at a single speed"). This serves as an authority anchor, suggesting that achieving physical outcomes is synonymous with honoring the royal mandate. However, this focus risks obscuring the necessary groundwork regarding institutional modernization and capacity building, which Kayouh also announced alongside project execution. The integration of maritime strategy, though initiated, remains in a reflective phase, highlighting a gap between high-level ambition and operational planning for non-infrastructure elements like fleet development and regulatory harmonization.
The pattern suggests an attempt to utilize momentum from external events (World Cup) to drive internal reforms. The underlying implication is that achieving global competitiveness flows directly from efficient internal logistics. The challenge for future implementation lies not just in allocating the stated budgets but in ensuring the institutional capacities, formalized through organizational reorganization and cadre mobilization, can withstand the demands of rapid execution without fracturing the focus on systemic strengthening versus immediate project delivery. What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success of this "single speed" beyond completed physical assets?