A €270 million financing agreement was signed on Tuesday in Casablanca between Morocco and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group for the Airport Infrastructure Extension and Modernization Program (PEMIA), an operation aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s airport capacity.
Presided over by AfDB Group President Sidi Ould Tah, on a visit to Morocco, and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, the ceremony saw the agreement signed by AfDB Country Manager for Morocco, Achraf Tarsim, and the Director General of the National Airports Office (ONDA), Adel El Fakir, the AfDB Group said in a statement.
“Through the €270 million loan granted to ONDA, the AfDB is supporting the Kingdom of Morocco’s ambition to modernize and expand its airport capacity, particularly in strategic hubs such as Marrakech, Agadir, Fes and Tangier. The Bank is also contributing to Morocco’s preparations for major international events,” Mr. Ould Tah said, according to the same source.
In the same vein, this operation also fits into the continental momentum that the Bank is driving forward through the Integrated Aviation Transformation Program for Africa (IATP), he specified, noting that this program aims to support African states in modernizing, financing and integrating their air transport systems to build a safer, more competitive, more sustainable and better-connected sector.
In the presence notably of Tamwilcom Director General Saïd Jabrani, this signing marks a major step in the transformation of Morocco’s airport sector and supports the Kingdom’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a reference air hub between Africa, Europe and the rest of the world.
In line with the Four Cardinal Points, the Bank Group’s operational vision and Morocco’s strategic priorities, this project supports the implementation of the Kingdom’s tourism vision for 2030.
Focused on the competitiveness of Moroccan air transport, PEMIA aims to sustainably strengthen the sector by modernizing and expanding the country’s main airport platforms. The program will increase airports’ operational capacity by upgrading infrastructure, expanding air navigation systems and strengthening safety and security measures.
Thanks to these investments, airports will be equipped with state-of-the-art security equipment, automated baggage handling systems and digital solutions designed to streamline passenger flows and improve their experience.
These improvements will provide travelers with a safer, faster and more comfortable service, in line with the most demanding international standards.
Anticipating sustained growth in passenger and freight traffic in the coming years, the project will help prepare Moroccan airport infrastructure for the Kingdom’s future mobility and connectivity needs.
By 2030, the program will raise capacity to 14 million passengers in Marrakech, five million in Agadir, 3.6 million in Tangier and three million in Fes. These investments will consolidate Morocco’s position as a regional air hub.
Beyond infrastructure modernization, the program is expected to generate significant economic and social spillovers.
In the short term, it will help strengthen the safety of airport operations and create several thousand jobs, particularly for young people and women.
In the medium term, it will boost tourism, trade and logistics activities, while stimulating public and private investment linked to the air transport sector, the statement concludes.
