Rabat -The French Development Agency (AFD) and Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF) celebrate two decades of collaboration, with a shared vision for a modern, efficient, and sustainable railway system in Morocco.
The AFD implements France’s policy on sustainable investment and international solidarity through funding, research, training, and advocacy.
Active in over 115 countries with more than 2,700 projects, the agency addresses climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, and global health, contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Over the past twenty years, AFD has supported ONCF in projects that transformed Morocco’s railway landscape, improving mobility for passengers and freight, boosting regional competitiveness, and advancing the shift toward low-carbon transport solutions.
“This long-term collaboration with the AFD has allowed us to deliver major railway projects that enhance network performance and service quality for our users. It fully reflects Morocco’s ambition to position rail as the backbone of sustainable mobility and a strategic instrument for development and territorial cohesion,” said Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Director General of ONCF, in a press statement.
Next steps for Morocco’s railway network to 2030
The partnership continues with AFD’s support for Morocco’s 2030 railway development program, which aims to extend the high-speed rail network and introduce new metropolitan commuter services in Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech.
The program seeks to strengthen intercity and local mobility while promoting a safe, efficient, and low-carbon transportation system.
AFD’s contribution focuses on launching a new commuter train service in the Rabat metropolitan area, designed to complement the city’s tramway network.
“The expansion of Morocco’s high-speed rail network represents a strategic project with significant economic, social, and environmental impact. Our support demonstrates AFD’s commitment to ONCF and Morocco in building an inclusive and resilient low-carbon railway system,” said Catherine Bonnaud, Director of AFD in Morocco.
Shared vision for a low-carbon future
Through this enduring partnership, AFD and ONCF aim to make rail central to Morocco’s ecological transition.
Their cooperation targets reduced greenhouse gas emissions, less congestion on major transport corridors, and improved mobility for citizens across the country.
After twenty years of close cooperation, the two institutions reaffirm their commitment to strengthen this partnership further, ensuring Morocco’s railway network remains modern, efficient, and prepared for the future.
