Morocco Redefines the Railway Industry Map in Africa
In a notable move, Morocco has announced a new strategic initiative in the heavy industries sector, launching two major industrial projects in the railway manufacturing field. This marks a clear shift from a reliance on imports to local manufacturing and technology transfer. The first project will be implemented in the city of Ben Guérir by the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem, under an agreement with the National Railway Office. It involves the production of double-decker trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, along with the construction of a factory funded directly by the South Korean government. The second project is led by the French company Alstom, which will establish a new production unit in the city of Fez specializing in the manufacture of regional train cabins.
These developments position Morocco at a crucial turning point in its industrial sovereignty. They signify not only an enhancement of production capacity but also a shift in the state’s economic doctrine, which now focuses on regional and international industrial positioning, as well as building partnerships based on joint manufacturing and knowledge exchange, rather than traditional trade agreements. This initiative comes amid rampant global competition in the railway industry, as the Kingdom chooses partners like South Korea and France under clear Moroccan terms that ensure training, production, and export.
In less than two decades, Morocco has transformed from a perennial importer of trains to an industrial player asserting its presence in the African market. Cities like Fez and Ben Guérir are entering the advanced industries map, reflecting the rise of a new economic model focused on manufacturing for sovereignty and partnerships for industrial influence.
