A Whopping 2 Trillion Won, 'Korea One Team' Delivers... Hyundai Rotem Wins Largest Electric Train Project in Morocco

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Hyundai Rotem has secured a 2 trillion KRW-scale contract to supply electric trains in Morocco. This marks the largest single railway project contract ever, achieved through the collaboration of a public-private joint team and active government support.

On the 26th, Hyundai Rotem announced that it had won a contract worth approximately 2.2027 trillion KRW from the Moroccan National Railways Office to supply double-decker electric trains. Maintenance of the vehicles will be jointly carried out by Hyundai Rotem and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) following separate negotiations with the Moroccan National Railways Office.

With this project, Hyundai Rotem, entering the Moroccan market for the first time, also set a new record for the largest single railway project contract. Previous large-scale contracts include the Australian NIF double-decker electric trains currently being delivered, worth about 1.4 trillion KRW, the Queensland electric train supply project in Australia secured last year worth about 1.3 trillion KRW, and the LA Metro electric trains worth about 900 billion KRW to be deployed for passenger transport during the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Hyundai Rotem CI

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The success in entering the Moroccan market was decisively influenced by the efforts of the public-private joint 'Korea One Team,' including Hyundai Rotem. Last year, Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Baek Won-guk, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited Morocco to meet with the Minister of Transport and Logistics and the head of the National Railways Office. Officials from the Korea Rail Network Authority and KORAIL also visited Morocco to promote the competitiveness of Korean railways.

In particular, KORAIL responded to the Moroccan National Railways Office’s demand for securing core maintenance technology by proposing comprehensive cooperation including technology transfer and training. KORAIL possesses independent maintenance capabilities and expertise accumulated through operating various railway vehicles such as high-speed trains, electric trains, and freight cars.

Initially, the bid was uncertain for the Korea One Team due to concessional financial proposals from European competitors. In response, the Korean government strengthened its competitiveness through support from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), an official development assistance (ODA) fund, achieving export success through public-private cooperation amid fierce international competition. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also made significant contributions to Korean companies’ contract wins as Team Korea by hosting high-level officials such as the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives and the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Korea-Africa Summit held in June last year.

The Moroccan double-decker electric trains will operate at speeds of 160 km/h, connecting major regions centered around Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco. This is expected to contribute to strengthening local public transportation ahead of Morocco’s hosting of the 2030 World Cup. Some of the vehicles will be produced locally, which is anticipated to aid the development of Morocco’s railway industry.

Positive effects are also expected for the mutual growth of the domestic railway industry and the stimulation of domestic demand, as about 90% of all parts constituting the vehicles are supplied by approximately 200 small and medium-sized Korean companies.

This project win will also boost the expansion of Korean railways into the African market. Through entering the Moroccan market, Hyundai Rotem is expected to accumulate related achievements and experience, enhancing its competitiveness in securing contracts. Hyundai Rotem has been conducting projects in various African countries such as Tunisia, Tanzania, and Egypt together with domestic partners.

A Hyundai Rotem official stated, "This contract is the result of the Korea One Team’s united efforts and a case where the competitiveness of K-Rail was recognized in the global market. We will do our best to supply high-quality electric trains that can be used safely and conveniently by local citizens as well as visitors to the 100th anniversary of the 2030 World Cup."

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