The African Development Bank has approved a €270 million loan to Morocco to finance an ambitious program to expand and modernize the country’s airport infrastructure as it prepares for a surge in tourism and for the 2030 World Cup.
The project, known as the Airport Infrastructure Extension and Modernization Program (PEMIA), aims to boost Morocco’s air transport competitiveness by upgrading major airports, expanding air navigation systems and strengthening security measures, AfDB said in a statement.
The improvements are designed to handle growing passenger and cargo traffic through 2030, when Morocco will co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
The plan includes modernizing airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez, adding new passenger terminals, building a control tower in Marrakech, and developing 1.5 million square meters of aircraft parking and 7.6 kilometers of taxiways, AfDB said.
Next-generation security equipment, automated baggage systems and modern mobility solutions will also be installed to offer a safer and more seamless travel experience.
“This project will help position Morocco as a leading air hub and prepare for a global event like the 2030 World Cup,” Achraf Hassan Tarsim, the AfDB’s country manager for Morocco, was quoted in the statement as saying.
By 2030, the upgrades are expected to raise airport capacity to 14 million passengers in Marrakech, five million in Agadir, 3.6 million in Tangier and three million in Fez.
The program is also expected to create thousands of jobs in the short term and stimulate tourism, trade and investment in the medium term.
