On April 24, 2025, King Mohammed VI launched the extension work on the high -speed line (LGV) between Kenitra and Marrakech, a major project much more significant than a simple infrastructure milestone. “”With a budget of 96 billion dirhams, this railway initiative goes far beyond the construction of rails. It marks the beginning of a new era of economic, industrial and territorial transformation for the kingdom“, Underlines the magazine Finances News Hebdo.
Behind the impressive figures, 430 km of rail, a reduction in journey time within 3 hours between Tangier and Marrakech, and the service of 5 regions representing 67% of national GDP, hides a deep ambition. It is a question of using the rail as a lever to redefine the economic geography of Morocco. Mobility is now a key factor in strengthening the attractiveness of territories and boosting the national economy.
The LGV between Kenitra and Marrakech embodies this vision of a connected Morocco, where logistics becomes a strategic lever for the competitiveness of businesses and investors. It is part of a continuous dynamic aimed at integrating regions more, reducing development imbalances and promoting the emergence of new economic poles.
«This LGV will constitute a real lever for the Marrakech region, still marked by the sequelae of the earthquake of Al Haouz. This project will open the way to global economic development, beyond the tourism sector, by strengthening industry, agro-industry and services ”, explains Youssef Guerraoui Filali, president of the Moroccan center for governance and management, quoted by the magazine. According to him, the increased connection with Casablanca and Tangier via Kenitra represents a unique opportunity for the region.
Unlike other purely logistical projects, the Kenitra-Marrakech LGV aims to be an industrial processing engine. It will be a showcase for the boom in the Moroccan productive fabric. Nearly 14 billion dirhams will be devoted to the maintenance and extension of the network, while 29 billion will be allocated to the acquisition of new trains. These investments are far from simple purchases; They shape the future of a national rail ecosystem, we read.
The impact of this project does not stop at the modernization of the rail network. It has a deeper transformation: the creation of an industrial railway sector in Morocco. “”We have a current integration rate of around 40%. It is imperative that Morocco appropriates the entire industrial process to develop a strong local brand“, Underlines Guerraoui. If the country manages to master the entire production chain, it will not only be able to strengthen its attractiveness, but also develop a competitive rail industry at the regional level, especially in Africa and the MENA region.
The training effect of this megaprojet is felt throughout the entrepreneurial fabric, especially among very small and medium -sized enterprises (TPME). The project arrives at a key moment, with the entry into force of the new investment charter, offering Moroccan companies bonuses up to 30% for projects related to this infrastructure. This could boost subcontracting, construction, logistics, engineering and maintenance, thus bringing positive repercussions for hundreds of local players.
According to Guerraoui, “This project will generate 10,000 direct and indirect positions, and the reduction in journey time will have a considerable impact on Marrakech’s economic competitiveness ”. He adds that this infrastructure will promote better economic balance between regions, with an average GDP per capita in Marrakech currently much lower than that of Casablanca and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra. “”Marrakech must now follow this momentum to fill the economic and social gap ”he says.
Par Lamia Elouali
05/05/2025 at 7.58 p.m.
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