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AfDB Boosts Morocco’s High‑Speed Rail with €205 Million Funding to Expand Kénitra‑Marrakech Corridor
The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a €205 million loan on 8 July 2026 to help Morocco extend its high‑speed rail line and upgrade the existing network along the strategic Kénitra‑Marrakech corridor. The financing aims to improve passenger and freight flow, lower logistics costs and reinforce Morocco’s role as a logistics hub between Europe and Africa, aligning with the country’s Rail 2040 plan. The project includes new rails, track‑laying equipment and a dedicated project‑management component to ensure efficient delivery and measurable impact, building on AfDB’s long‑standing support for Moroccan infrastructure.
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Project Overview
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board approved a €205 million loan to Morocco on 8 July 2026 in Abidjan, earmarked for the Support Project for Railway Infrastructure Development (PADIF). The financing will fund the extension of the high‑speed line (LGV) and upgrades to the existing rail network along the strategic Kénitra‑Marrakech corridor.
Strategic Benefits
By improving travel speed and freight capacity between the kingdom’s major economic and urban hubs, the project aims to promote sustainable mobility, lower logistics costs, and reinforce Morocco’s role as a logistics gateway between Europe and Africa. AfDB’s country representative, Achraf Tarsim, emphasized that the combined upgrade will accommodate rising passenger and cargo volumes, shorten travel times, and boost the country’s competitiveness.
Equipment Procurement
The PADIF will purchase new rails, track‑laying machines and related assets for both conventional lines and the LGV, thereby increasing corridor capacity and operational reliability.
Project Management Support
A dedicated component of the loan covers project management, design supervision, and post‑implementation monitoring to ensure efficient delivery and measurable impact.
Alignment with National Plans
The initiative is fully aligned with the AfDB’s four‑pillars strategy, Morocco’s 2024‑2029 country strategy, the “New Development Model”, and the “Rail 2040” plan, all of which target a modern, resilient rail network.
AfDB Track Record in Morocco
Since 1978, AfDB has mobilized nearly €15 billion for more than 150 projects in Morocco, spanning transport, social protection, water, energy, agriculture, governance and finance.