Morocco will host the fifth session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium on April 13 in Marrakesh, reinforcing the country’s growing role in global aviation governance, officials said.
Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh said Morocco was selected after a competitive process involving nearly ninety candidate countries, reflecting its improved performance in civil aviation oversight and regulatory compliance.
He said Morocco’s adherence to international aviation safety standards has risen significantly, with compliance levels increasing from sixty-seven per cent to nearly eighty-seven per cent in recent years.
The summit is expected to bring together about 1,500 participants, including around fifty transport ministers, alongside aviation regulators, aircraft manufacturers and senior industry executives.
Discussions will focus heavily on the future of sustainable aviation, particularly the transition away from conventional jet fuel as the global aviation sector faces mounting pressure to decarbonise.
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Moroccan officials said the country is actively exploring alternative fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel, green hydrogen and green ammonia, as part of its long-term strategy to modernise its aviation sector and align with global climate goals.
The event comes at a time when Morocco is accelerating investment in its aviation infrastructure, aiming to position itself as a key air transport hub connecting Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Under the government’s Airports 2030 strategy, national airport capacity is set to double to around eighty million passengers by 2030, up from roughly forty million currently.
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The expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen Morocco’s role as a regional logistics and transit centre, supported by rising passenger demand and growing international connectivity.
Flag carrier Royal Air Maroc is also pursuing an aggressive fleet expansion strategy in partnership with the state, with plans to increase its aircraft fleet to around two hundred.
In 2023, the airline signed a programme agreement with the government targeting a fourfold expansion of its fleet by 2037, and has since launched a tender for one hundred and eighty-eight aircraft, with results expected soon.
Officials say the combined infrastructure and fleet expansion plans are designed to enhance Morocco’s competitiveness in global aviation markets and support tourism, trade and investment flows.
Separately, the government has introduced targeted financial support to cushion the impact of high fuel prices on the transport sector.
Authorities have allocated 648 million dirhams (about sixty-five million dollars) in direct subsidies to support more than 216,000 vehicles across multiple transport categories, including freight operators, taxis, buses, tourist transport services, rural transport providers and school transport.
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The support package comes amid sustained pressure from global fuel price volatility, which has increased operating costs for transport operators across the country.
Officials say the measures are intended to stabilise the sector while broader energy transition policies are developed.
The ICAO summit is expected to highlight Morocco’s ambitions to play a larger role in shaping global aviation standards, particularly in sustainability, safety oversight and infrastructure development, as competition intensifies among emerging aviation hubs.
