French international ALSTOM seeks to boost investments in Morocco's rail industry by 2025

The promoter of sustainable mobility ALSTOM held the 3rd edition of supplier day in Morocco this Tuesday, along with the presence of officials, foreign investors, and suppliers.

This edition saw discussions on how Morocco can be a supplier reference for the rail industry by 2025.

ALSTOM’s Chief procurement officer, Christophe Gourlay said the supply chain approach needs to transition from global to local into local to local, especially with the ongoing crisis.

“Suppliers also need to work together for the future of business in order to achieve high efficiency of production,” he added.

ALSTOM Morocco’s Managing director, Noureddine RHALMI, told Hespress EN in a statement that the rail industry meets sustainable development goals, which helps overcome climate change effects on the environment.

“Railway transport is also better than electric and hybrid cars in terms of optimization,” he added.

ALSTOM offers hydrogen, battery train, energy recovery, automatic train operation, train-to-train communication, data maintenance, power supply, and green mobility solutions.

Investment director within the Investment Ministry, Hicham Chaoudri said the global economy was affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which led to disruptions in supply and demand.

“The ongoing crisis also resulted in emergent needs,” he added.

“Morocco is among the best investment destinations in Africa, and even worldwide,” the Investment Ministry’s official further stated.

“The country offers a large investment capacity, mainly in the Tangier Med port plants, in addition to its rail industry,” he said.

“Morocco also took advantage of its geostrategic plan, enabling it to reach free trade agreements with different countries,” he added.

The Investment Ministry official said Morocco has stability, sustainability, and skills (SSS).

“The country is stable politically and economically with a medium to long term vision as well as meets sustainability goals for the achievement of green mobility,” he stated, adding that most countries work on cutting gas emissions, making Morocco among the best destinations in the region for this purpose.

“Regarding skills, Morocco also has an important workforce for investors and suppliers, in addition to the availability of skilled labor, and training programs by companies subsidized by Morocco,” he explained.

The Investment Ministry official said his Ministry has prepared an investment charter that will help subsidize the railway sector in the near future.

“The investment Ministry’s charter aims to give hand to the private sector to expand investment in the rail sector by 2025,” he added.

“The goal is to develop the ecosystem of ALSTOM, ONCF, tramway as well as create local sourcing,” he concluded.

Board member in charge of the development strategy of STRS ( Sale-Rabat tramway company), Nadir Yacoubi said since its inauguration in 2011, the company works on the conception, the financing, and putting into operation of the tramway.

“ STRS will also allocate an investment budget of MAD 6 billion to MAD 8 billion by 2025/26 for the expansion of this sector,” he added.

ALSTOM MENAT (Middle East, Northern Africa, and Turkey) Managing Director, Mama Sougoufara said the company has been supporting the kingdom on its mobility strategy and industrial footprint.

ALSTOM also develops and markets mobility solutions that provide sustainable foundations for the future of transportation, including high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and tramways.

“The company is a global leader in the transportation sector in the digital age, following its urban rolling stock, flexible services, mainline rolling stock, locomotives, components, and signaling,” he added, committing to speed up smart and green mobility innovation with important R&D investments in order to lead the way to a greener and smarter mobility worldwide.

ALSTOM held the first supplier day edition in 2017, in a move to attract further suppliers and investors to the Moroccan market.