El Jadida played host to the fourth edition of the Rail Industry Summit Morocco, a growing event that’s quickly establishing the country as a key regional player in the global rail sector. Backed by the ONCF (Morocco’s national railway operator), the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE), and the Moroccan Traindustry Cluster, the summit brought together over 1,400 participants from 20 countries, including 300 companies and 185 exhibitors.
Industry giants like Hyundai Rotem, Alstom, and Siemens Mobility were among the high-profile attendees, joining forces with local players to engage in what has now become a flagship event for professional networking and business development in the railway sector.
Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh, along with Mohammed Smouni—ONCF’s Deputy Director General and President of the Moroccan Traindustry Cluster—used the event as a platform to highlight Morocco’s major ongoing rail projects and the deep transformation underway across the national network.
Currently, the country is channeling a massive investment of 96 billion dirhams into upgrading and expanding its railway infrastructure. One of the centerpiece projects is a new high-speed line stretching 430 kilometers between Kenitra and Marrakech. In parallel, a regional express network covering 250 kilometers is set to connect the urban hubs of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. The plan also includes the purchase of 168 new trains to support the growing demand.
This strategic expansion builds on strong momentum. Morocco’s rail network, already spanning 3,350 kilometers, is on track to hit a record by the end of 2025, with 56 million passengers expected to travel across the system.
But the ambition goes well beyond infrastructure. ONCF is aiming to foster a robust local industrial ecosystem that supports an end-to-end railway supply chain. A new specialized industrial zone is currently under development in Benguerir, designed to host manufacturing facilities for rolling stock, components, and railway systems. In a major step forward, Hyundai Rotem secured a contract in early 2025 to supply 110 regional express trainsets, a deal worth €1.5 billion. The South Korean manufacturer will also establish a factory in the region, which is set to become the cornerstone of this emerging industrial hub.
