In a step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Morocco and Senegal signed two framework cooperation agreements on Thursday in Rabat. These agreements aim to enhance collaboration in the field of transport, particularly in the railway sector.
The first agreement was signed between Morocco's Railways Office (ONCF) and Senegal's National Company for the Management of the Regional Express Train Heritage (SEN-TER-SA). The second agreement was inked between Morocco's Railway Training Institute (IFF) and SEN-TER-SA, further solidifying the partnership between the two countries.
The signing ceremony took place during a high-level meeting between Morocco's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil, and Senegal's Minister of Infrastructure and Land and Air Transport, Malick Ndiaye. Minister Ndiaye was accompanied by a delegation of senior officials from Senegal.
During the meeting, the ministers praised the strong and enduring relationship between Morocco and Senegal, emphasizing their mutual commitment to deepening cooperation, particularly in the railway sector. Both sides expressed their eagerness to explore new avenues for collaboration, including railway maintenance, road and air transport, and improving road safety in both countries.
The ministers also reaffirmed their dedication to advancing joint efforts in the transport sector. They agreed to finalize ongoing agreements and to establish a multidisciplinary working group. This group will be responsible for developing an action plan to implement the newly signed agreements and ensuring the recommendations from the meeting are put into practice.
As the meeting concluded, Minister Abdeljalil extended an invitation to his Senegalese counterpart to participate in the 4th World Road Safety Conference, scheduled to be held in Marrakech in February 2025.
The meeting was part of an official visit by the Senegalese delegation to Morocco, which took place from August 27 to 29, 2024. During their visit, the delegation toured several cities, including Tangier, Fez, and Rabat, to gain insights into Morocco's experience in high-speed train (TGV) maintenance and the broader railway industry.
Speaking to the press, Minister Abdeljalil highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation between Morocco and Senegal in transport. He noted that the two countries had agreed to improve networking and communication to achieve a higher level of collaboration, especially in railway development.
Minister Ndiaye, reflecting on his visit, described it as an opportunity to observe Morocco's "qualitative" achievements in urban and intercity mobility, particularly in the railway sector. He added that the visit allowed the Senegalese delegation to learn from Morocco's best practices and pioneering experience in this domain.
