Transport

The Moroccan transport sector has made some great strides in recent years, and projects across the spectrum are ongoing and set for delivery over the next year and a half, in line with the government’s medium-term infrastructure development plans. While major events such as the 2008-09 financial crisis, the ensuing eurozone debt crisis and recent regional political instability have impacted passenger and cargo flows to and from the kingdom, investment plans in general have kept pace. As such, the first phase of SAAN, a multi-phased plan to upgrade and extend Morocco’s road network, was completed in 2012 and involved the construction of 1000 km of roads. Over the next five years substantial public funding is set to go towards revamping and expanding road, rail, maritime and air traffic infrastructure. This will consolidate Morocco’s position as a regional transit hub for both cargo and passenger traffic, while also responding to growing demand from the domestic market, where passengers are increasing in number, as well as demanding better service quality. This chapter contains interviews with Thierry de Margerie, Vice-President Africa, Alstom, and Faysal El Hajjami, President & Managing Director for Maghreb Region, DHL Express.