Two transport companies are joining forces to run bus services in Fez, Tangier and Tétouan as Morocco pushes ahead with plans to improve public transport across the country. Moroccan transport operator CTM and Transdev Maroc Holding have received approval from the Competition Council to create two new joint companies and jointly manage an existing bus operator in Fez.
Under the agreement, Transdev Maroc Holding will buy a 49% stake in Issal Fès, while CTM will keep its shareholding. Issal Fès already runs public bus services in Fez and nearby areas.
The two companies will also create Issal Tanger and Issal Tétouan, which will operate bus networks in Tangier and Tétouan respectively.
Issal Tanger will manage bus services in the Al Boughaz area, while Issal Tétouan will run services in Tétouan and surrounding districts.
The deal comes as Morocco invests heavily in public transport ahead of major international events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The Interior Ministry is leading a $1.1bn programme to modernise urban transport. The plan includes putting 3,500 new buses into service across 32 cities by 2029 to help ease traffic and improve connections in growing urban areas.
Public buses and taxis currently account for around a quarter of all road journeys in Morocco.
The partnership also reflects a wider trend in Morocco’s transport sector, where local operators are working with international companies to improve services and bring in operational expertise.
Transdev Maroc Holding is part of the international Transdev Group, which operates public transport networks in several countries. CTM is one of Morocco’s best-known transport companies, providing intercity coach services and parcel delivery in Morocco and abroad.
The modernisation drive also includes cleaner transport. The government wants more electric and hybrid buses on Moroccan roads as part of efforts to reduce energy use and cut emissions from the transport sector.
