Morocco plans to become Africa’s aircraft manufacturing hub, and is all set to manufacture its first aircraft by 2030. With French company – Safran, that owns an aircraft repair plant in Casablanca. There are 130 companies in total that operate in the aviation industry in Morocco.
Reportedly, Moroccan officials have set their sights on transforming the kingdom into a global aviation powerhouse, courting major manufacturers in a bid to capture a larger share of the multi-billion-dollar aerospace market.
With demand for new aircrafts soaring and companies like Boeing and Airbus scrambling to ramp up production, Morocco is positioning itself as an attractive destination for firms, aiming to diversify their supply chains and tap into a skilled, cost-effective workforce.
CEO of the state-owned carrier Royal Air Maroc – Hamid Abbou, expressed confidence in Morocco’s position. Abbou said, “The needs are huge, and we are in a very good position, most of the big suppliers in Europe are struggling to get people to work in this industry. We don’t have that issue.”
Considering the highlights that the push to expand Morocco’s $2 billion aerospace sector dovetails with the government’s broader strategy to reduce the economy’s reliance on agriculture by nurturing high-value manufacturing.
In recent years, officials have rolled out generous subsidies and incentives to lure the producers of planes, trains and other automobiles.
Morocco’s aviation industry has currently encompassed some 130 companies, spanning the production of critical components such as wings and fuselages. The aviation sector has played a key role in boosting women’s economic participation, along with females accounting for an impressive 42% of the aerospace workforce for a larger proportion than in Europe and North America.
Notably, French manufacturer Safran Aircraft Engines, for instance, operates a thriving repair plant outside Casablanca where engines for Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s are serviced every six to eight years before being returned to airlines around the globe, from Brazil and Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
CEO of Safran – Jean-Paul Alary said, “It’s the access to well-qualified talent that’s been well-trained,” as per the saying at an event marking the company’s 25-year partnership with Royal Air Maroc. “They are the key players for achieving our goals,” added Alary.
The government has worked hand-in-hand with industry to develop a pipeline of skilled aviation workers, most notably through Casablanca’s Institute of Aeronautics Professions (IMA). By investing in world-class training, officials aim to position Morocco as a hub for excellence in aerospace manufacturing and innovation.