RABAT: France will lend Morocco 781 million euros to finance the purchase of 18 high-speed trains made by Alstom, the French embassy in Rabat said on Friday.
The trains are part of a plan to extend the high-speed rail network from Kenitra on the western coast to Marrakech before the 2030 World Cup that Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Alstom will supply Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF, with Avelia Horizon double-decker trains that can carry 640 passengers with a speed of 320 km/h, the embassy said in a statement.
ONCF also aims to expand its network to double the number of cities it serves to 43, or 87 percent of the Moroccan population, by 2040.
In February, ONCF said it will also buy 150 trains under concessional loans from Spain and South Korea as it expands urban, intercity and high-speed rail networks.
South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem will supply 110 urban trains worth $1.5 billion, while Spain’s CAF will build 40 intercity trains for $813 million.
The deals include investments in the country’s nascent rail industry, ONCF said last month.
French loan to help Morocco buy 18 fast trains ahead of World Cup
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French loan to help Morocco buy 18 fast trains ahead of World Cup
- The trains are part of a plan to extend the high-speed rail network
- Alstom will supply Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF, with Avelia Horizon double-decker trains
Iranian FM calls Qatari counterpart ahead of nuclear talks
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani reiterated Qatar’s support for all efforts to reduce tensions
- Regional powers have pushed for talks scheduled for Friday in Oman between Iran, US
LONDON: Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a telephone call from his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Wednesday.
The call focused on deescalation efforts in the region, according to Qatar News Agency.
Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s support for all efforts to reduce tensions and pursue peaceful solutions that enhance regional security and stability, QNA reported.
He highlighted the importance of collective action to protect the region’s people from the consequences of escalation and to pursue diplomatic solutions.
Regional powers have pushed for talks, scheduled for Friday in Oman, between Iran and the US to reach an agreement regarding Tehran’s nuclear program and prevent another escalation in the region.
Qatar and Iran share a maritime border in the Arab Gulf and the world’s largest natural gas field, the South Pars/North Dome Field.
