Enhancing the Partnership between Morocco and the Economic Commission for Africa to Develop Continental Transport and Logistics
Morocco and the Economic Commission for Africa have strengthened their cooperation in the fields of transport and logistics during a high-level working meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in Rabat. This meeting brought together Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics, and Claver Gatete, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.
This meeting was part of an exploratory visit by the UN official to the Kingdom from January 22 to 24, accompanied by a high-level delegation, aiming to establish a roadmap for solid institutional cooperation and enhance partnership in strategic sectors.
The meeting resulted in a renewed mutual commitment to deepening collaboration and exploring new avenues to develop the transport sector, improve road safety, and support regional integration across the African continent.
The railway sector topped the agenda of discussions, highlighting its strategic role not only as a means of transport but also as a key lever for regional connectivity and enhancing African economic integration. The two sides emphasized the importance of developing sustainable railway networks that contribute to reducing distances and promoting intra-African trade, in line with the continent’s structural transformation vision.
The discussions also extended to road safety, which both parties identified as a critical developmental challenge. They agreed to enhance collaboration through sharing Moroccan expertise, strengthening institutional capacities, and developing regulatory frameworks, in addition to supporting public policies aimed at establishing a safe and sustainable transport system that protects human capital.
In this context, the discussions addressed modernizing logistical systems by upgrading transport infrastructure to international standards, facilitating cross-border flows, and improving supply chain performance, which enhances the competitiveness of African economies while accelerating the transition to environmentally friendly transport modes.
Regarding strategic cooperation prospects, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa expressed optimism about partnership possibilities with Morocco, particularly in light of the ongoing preparations for the upcoming annual meeting of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to be held in Tangier in March and April.
The UN official confirmed that his visit aims to institutionalize cooperation with Morocco as a leading country on the continental level, expressing the committee’s desire to benefit from Moroccan experience in logistics connectivity, integrated transport systems, and the Tangier Med port as a pivotal maritime platform linking Africa to global markets.
The discussions also encompassed food security issues, exploring ways for African countries to benefit from Morocco’s expertise in phosphate and fertilizer production, alongside cooperation in renewable energy, highlighting Morocco’s leadership in solar and wind energy, and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project as a lever for continental energy integration.
The two sides also addressed the prospects for developing future industries, particularly in establishing continental value chains for electric vehicle batteries, linking raw materials from some African countries to advanced manufacturing industries in Morocco.
For his part, the Minister of Transport and Logistics highlighted that the meeting provided an opportunity to showcase Morocco’s experience in developing transport infrastructure in line with the royal vision, emphasizing the airport expansion plan aimed at increasing capacity from 34 million passengers currently to 80 million by 2030.
He also confirmed Morocco’s readiness to share its expertise in railway transport and sustainable infrastructure development, viewing them as levers for national and continental economic growth, reinforcing Morocco’s preparedness to navigate global changes in air transport, with projections estimating a total of 12 billion passengers worldwide by 2050.
The minister concluded by stressing that Morocco’s ambitious vision for transport and logistics received significant appreciation from officials of the Economic Commission for Africa.
