afrol News, 2 December - In order to improve the competitiveness of its economy, Morocco has undertaken a vast programme of institutional reforms in the transport sector. While first renewing the vehicle fleet, improving road safety and reducing transport costs, the Moroccan government plans to withdraw public ownership from the sector.

Morocco's Transport Sector Reform Programme (TSRP) today obtained important funding from the African Development Bank (ADB) in the form of a budget support loan of 240 million euros (about 2.7 billion dirhams). The programme aims at improving the contribution of the transport sector to the national economy by liberalising the market and reducing transport costs.

According to the ADB, the transport reform programme is to generate an improved liberalisation of the transport market, as well as professional, structural and organisational upgrading of the operators of the sector. It is also to help establish state divestiture from commercial activities and a better allocation of resources as well as strengthening of transport security and safety.

As far as road transport is concerned, the programme aims at liberalising the sub-sector and attract more major investors. It is to help renew the vehicle fleet, improve road safety while reducing transport costs. It also aims at helping to get a good knowledge of action to be taken for urban and interurban transport sub-sector reform.

As for the maritime transport, Morocco plans to get an improved sub-sector identification, new investment to extend the port capacity, greater private sector participation in port commercial activities, reduced port transit costs, better adjustment of the tariffs to the actual costs of services, and strengthening the competitiveness of the national shipping lines.

In the field of air transport, the programme seeks the liberalisation of the activities hitherto monopolised by Royal Air Maroc and the reduction of ground services costs. It also seeks improved airport safety and security.

The continued implementation of the reforms in the rail transport sub-sector ultimately is to lead to the opening up of the passenger and freight markets. The infrastructure however is to remain state property. The operation will be transferred to private partners, which will be responsible for its maintenance and servicing.

- The programme will generate an increased passengers and goods rail traffic as well as improved financial health of the rail operator and enhanced private investment, according to the ADB.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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