Minister Kayouh chairs the meetings of the steering committee with road transport professionals

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

HIBAPRESS-RABAT-MTL Mr. Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics, chaired, on April 28, 29 and 30 in Rabat, meetings of the steering committee with representatives of public passenger transport, tourist transport, transport in rural areas (mixed transport) and car rental without driver, in the presence of leaders of the Ministry and the National Road Safety Agency (Narsa).

These meetings mark a new step to strengthen consultation with professionals in the sector, in consecration of the participatory approach adopted to modernize the sector and consolidate its competitiveness.

Regarding the public transport sector of travelers, the examination of the progress of the agreed priorities was examined, in particular with regard to the execution of the “Safe Autocar” program, intended to support the reform of the interurban public transport sector, to strengthen its attractiveness and competitiveness, to improve the quality of services rendered to citizens and to consolidate road safety.

And to add that from 2022, the ministry developed a vision aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the interurban public transport of travelers, and articulating around three components:

Coach: Through the development of a modernization program for the public transport bus park of travelers and the reduction of their average age. Under the joint decree signed on July 11, 2024 by the Minister of Transport and Logistics and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance responsible for the Budget, the implementation of “Safe Autocar” started for the period 2024-2026, with an annual budgetary envelope of 200 million dirhams. The professional driver: The ministry intends to strengthen the professionalism of bus drivers from public transportation of travelers through the improvement of the training system and driving exams for the “D” category permit, by integrating new technologies into the supervision and training of drivers. Infrastructure: The ministry continues, in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior, the implementation of the program for the new generation of road stations. He also works to develop a regulatory and benchmark framework fixing the standards to be complied with for the creation and conditions of operating of these infrastructure.

In this context, Mr. Kayouh has informed professionals of novelties related to this program, who will contribute to the success of this common effort, calling for the development of a common vision for the management of the public transport sector of travelers, in addition to the measures initiated for the implementation of reforms capable of raising the quality of services in terms of aspirations.

The exchanges also focused on the efforts made by the ministry to simplify and digitize administrative procedures, so as to accelerate the processing of pending files.

Regarding the meeting held with tourism transport professionals, the Minister stressed the crucial role of this sector in the connection between the various tourist destinations of the Kingdom and the facilitation of the mobility of tourists throughout the national territory.

The meeting was an opportunity to debate a series of questions that concern professionals in the tourism transport sector, including the sustainable impact of the COVVI-19 pandemic, the growth prospects of the sector and the increased requirements of tourists, while highlighting the need to structure the sector, to support its actors, to strengthen their professionalization, to energize the investment and to constantly raise the quality of the services.

With regard to the meeting with the professionals of mixed transport, the Minister highlighted the challenges of mixed transport in rural areas, in the context of the implementation of agreed programs, including the program to renew the 2024-2026 fleet, launched under the joint decree of July 11, 2024, intended to modernize the vehicles serving rural and mountainous areas, to improve the quality of service for the populations concerned and Road.

Mr. Kayouh also presented solutions capable of enabling professionals to benefit from this program, noting that the ministry has increased subsidies dedicated to mixed transport to encourage the membership of operators Audit Program. He said, in this regard, that their files will be examined in priority by the transport committee.

Regarding the meeting with representatives of the car rental sector without a driver, the minister recalled, the strong increase in this activity, carried by the influx of foreign tourists and the return of Moroccans residing abroad, stressing that the ministry, in consultation with professionals in the sector, made the revision of the specifications, entered into force on April 15, 2024, a priority while continuing the simplification and digitization of the procedures.

In order to support car rental agencies without a driver exercising this activity before the entry into force of the new specifications, the Minister approved the extension of the transitional period to change the legal status, the headquarters and the operating manager until December 31, 2025.

During these meetings, the emphasis was put on the full commitment of the ministry to work, in concert with all professionals and speakers, to the establishment of a modern and sustainable transport system, up to the ambitions of the kingdom and the expectations of its citizens.