RABAT, Nov. 18 (AGCNewsNet) - The China Overseas Engineering Corporation (Covec) has secured a $135 million contract to construct a key section of Morocco’s High-Speed Rail Project, outbidding French competitor NGE Contracting by 21%. Covec’s bid was $11 million below the original $146 million estimate provided by Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF). 

Covec is the fourth Chinese firm to join the project, alongside CRCC, China Railway Engineering, and Shandong Hi-Speed Engineering-Construction. This collaborative effort aims to modernize Morocco’s rail infrastructure, with a 430-kilometer line connecting Tangiers, Kenitra, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh. 

French engineering firms Egis and Systra, along with Morocco’s Novec, are overseeing the project, which includes new tracks, upgraded stations, two terminal stations, and a maintenance hub. Trains on the line will reach speeds of up to 320km/h, with completion set for 2030. 

Morocco’s High-Speed Rail Project is a cornerstone of the country’s efforts to enhance connectivity and solidify its position as a global transport hub, especially as it prepares to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.