France’s Alstom Strikes 45 Million Euro Tram Deal with Rabat

A file photo taken on May 19, 2015 shows the Alstom logo at the Alstom plant in Montoir-de-Bretagne, near Saint-Nazaire, western France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD
A file photo taken on May 19, 2015 shows the Alstom logo at the Alstom plant in Montoir-de-Bretagne, near Saint-Nazaire, western France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD
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France’s Alstom Strikes 45 Million Euro Tram Deal with Rabat

A file photo taken on May 19, 2015 shows the Alstom logo at the Alstom plant in Montoir-de-Bretagne, near Saint-Nazaire, western France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD
A file photo taken on May 19, 2015 shows the Alstom logo at the Alstom plant in Montoir-de-Bretagne, near Saint-Nazaire, western France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD

French train maker Alstom has signed a 45 million euro contract with the Rabat-Salé transport company STRS for the supply of 22 Citadis trams that will run in the Moroccan capital.

The Citadis trams will be designed and manufactured in La Rochelle, France. Five other French sites will be used for the design, the production of the on-board electronic equipment and passenger information systems, power modules and circuit-breaker boxes. And, in Italy, another site will supply the traction system, the French firm said.

Following delivery, which is scheduled 26 months after the date of the contract’s entry into force, the trams will be subjected to static and dynamic tests at the customer’s site. Alstom’s team in Morocco will ensure after-sales service, it said.

The deal aims to increase STRS existing fleet of 44 Citadis trams from Alstom.

Trams began operating in Rabat in 2011. The number of commuters at the Rabat-Salé’s two tramway lines has steadily grown, with over 150 million passengers transported to date. To meet growing transportation needs, STRS has decided to add more lines, reaching 33 kilometers.

The 32m-long low-floor Citadis LRVs can transport up to 606 passengers when operating in multiple. Each LRV has 12 doors per side and is designed for use by mobility-impaired passengers. 

Alstom has already delivered Citadis trams to the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, and 12 Euroduplex trains for the high-speed rail line that will link Tangier to Casablanca.

The company has branches in 60 countries.



Saudi Arabia to Host Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia to Host Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), will host the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) in October, underscoring the Kingdom's significant industrial transformation, in line with Vision 2030, and aiming to expand the Saudi industrial base and solidify its position as a leading global industrial center.
Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in Riyadh, the forum is yet another substantial industrial development initiative the Kingdom relentlessly takes.
By carrying out programs focused on innovation, diversification, and boosting of the industrial sectors, including 12 strategic sectors identified in the National Industrial Strategy, Saudi Arabia seeks to raise competitiveness and support its national economy.
Beyond the National Industrial Strategy, the Kingdom has invested in developing industrial infrastructure, such as industrial cities and special economic zones, and fostered international cooperation to facilitate transfer of knowledge and technology. The forum, in which global experts and decision makers participate, is an ideal platform to exchange expertise and set best practices in industrial policies.
Saudi Arabia aims to develop policies that are in line with international standards, thus increasing the global competitiveness of its industrial sector. By leading initiatives for sustainable industrial practices, promoting international cooperation, exchanging expertise, and adopting environmentally friendly technologies, the Kingdom seeks to enhance the flexibility of its supply chains, in line with the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.
The industrial sector in Saudi Arabia witnessed significant developments in 2023, including announcing major investment opportunities in targeted sectors, issuing a license for the first Saudi-made electric car brand "Ceer", and opening the first electric vehicle manufacturing factory "Lucid". The Kingdom aims to produce over 300,000 cars annually by 2030.
Attracting private sector investments is crucial to achieving the goals of the National Industrial Strategy. The industrial sector focuses on enhancing integration among various sectors and their supply chains, developing infrastructure, encouraging joint investments, promoting local content, and empowering national companies through policies, financing, and training.
In July 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources launched the Future Factories Program, which aims to transform 4,000 factories from labor-intensive models to efficient, automated operations utilizing advanced industrial solutions. This initiative seeks to enhance competitiveness, improve product quality, and increase exports of Saudi non-oil products.
The ministry has also made strides in improving the regulatory and legislative environment for the industrial sector, creating an environment conducive to investments and fair competition.
The ministry's goals for 2024 and 2025 include attracting investments in targeted industrial sectors, reaching a total investment volume of SAR451 billion, adding 1,500 products to the mandatory local content list, increasing the industrial sector's contribution to non-oil GDP to SAR412 billion, and boosting non-oil exports to over SAR300 billion. Moreover, the ministry aims to launch the industrial sector governance initiative to stimulate integration and concerted efforts among relevant stakeholders.
The second edition of the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum, hosted by Riyadh under the theme "Transforming Challenges into Sustainable Solutions through Industrial Policies", will bring together some 3,000 industry leaders from around the world, including decision makers, CEOs, industry specialists, and people interested in developing industrial policies.