Strengthened Morocco-Spain Relations Following Transport And Logistics Meeting
On Monday, 4 March 2024, a pivotal meeting was convened at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in Morocco, marking a significant stride in the collaborative efforts between Morocco and Spain in the fields of transport and logistics. The session was spearheaded by Mr. Mohammed ABDELJALIL, the Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, and Mr. Oscar Puente SANTIAGO, the Spanish Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. They were joined by His Excellency Mr. Enrique OJEDA, the Ambassador of Spain to Morocco, along with a high-level delegation from Spain.
The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration in the development of infrastructure and transportation, highlighting its significance in light of the upcoming Soccer World Cup in 2030.
Concerning maritime transport, both parties expressed satisfaction with the progress made towards initiating a maritime line connecting Tarfaya in Morocco with Puerto del Rosario in the Canary Islands. This venture is expected to bolster tourism and facilitate trade expansion between Morocco and Spain.
Rail transport also featured prominently in the discussions, with both ministers exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation. This included the examination of Spanish investment opportunities in Moroccan railway projects and the promotion of technical exchanges between the railway operators of the two countries, aiming to foster a more integrated approach towards rail transport.
In a statement issued by Spain’s Ministry of Transport, it is noted that Spanish companies, both public and private, have shown interest in participating in the execution, construction, maintenance, and operation of Morocco’s new railway plans, specifically in the area of high-speed rail.
The strategic nature of the Fixed Link project between Morocco and Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar was also discussed, Minister Nizar Baraka indicated that he is finalising a date to hold the 44th meeting of the Mixed Spanish-Moroccan Committee of the project to continue working on its definition.
It was announced during the meeting that Ineco and its Moroccan counterpart, CID, are finalising the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of projects related to railways, urban mobility, airports, and digitalisation.
The meeting concluded with a firm commitment to expedite the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2023 in Rabat, during the 12th session of the Morocco-Spain High Level Meeting. This MOU encompasses cooperation across various transport and logistics fields, and the parties agreed to establish a joint team dedicated to developing an action plan to address the areas of common interest outlined within the document.
Side note: The Fixed Link project between Morocco and Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar, also referred to as the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar – is a strategic initiative aimed at establishing a physical connection between the two countries across the Strait of Gibraltar. This ambitious project has been under consideration for several decades and involves various proposed methods, including a tunnel or a bridge, to link the two continents.
In October 2023, Spain’s Raquel Sánchez, co-chaired today, together with the Moroccan Minister of Infrastructure and Water, Nizar Baraka, the 43rd meeting of the Spanish-Moroccan Joint Committee of the Strait of Gibraltar Fixed Link Project. “Therefore, we begin a new stage of relaunching the Fixed Link Project through the Strait of Gibraltar, whose journey we began in 1981, with the help of our two companies, Secegsa and SNED,” concluded Raquel Sánchez.
For more information go here: https://www.secegsa.gob.es/proyecto-del-enlace-fijo
https://www.transportes.gob.es/el-ministerio/sala-de-prensa/noticias/lun-04032024-1922 & http://www.transport.gov.ma/Actualites/Pages/Actualites.aspx?IdNews=4020
Other content element sources: https://www.transportes.gob.es/el-ministerio/sala-de-prensa/noticias/lun-10042023-1715
https://unece.org/europe-africa-permanent-link
