فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Riyad Mezour, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, confirmed that 150 companies operating in the aviation manufacturing sector have at least one factory in Morocco, with an annual turnover of approximately 2.5 billion euros. He made these remarks in an interview with the French newspaper Le Point on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, currently taking place at Le Bourget Airport, where Morocco is participating prominently.
The minister explained that these companies generate around 26,000 full-time jobs, mainly concentrated in the Casablanca, Tangier, Rabat, and Fez regions. Their activities span aircraft structure manufacturing, structural components, interior equipment, and cabling.
Mezour also highlighted the strategic partnership between Royal Air Maroc and the French company Safran regarding CFM engines. He recalled that during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco last October, an agreement was signed to expand this partnership to include the new generation Leap aircraft engines.
He emphasized that Morocco provides all the necessary resources to maintain these high-tech systems, training around 23,000 engineers annually, including 400 specializing in the aviation sector. He pointed out Morocco’s competitive production costs, estimated at 25 euros per hour compared to 100 to 120 euros in Europe or the United States.
“We are working to expand our offerings to include aircraft cabin equipment and landing gear manufacturing,” Mezour said. “We believe that within ten years, we will be able to offer a final assembly line for commercial aircraft,” expressing confidence that the sector’s turnover could double by 2030.
The minister also announced an ongoing study regarding a new aircraft order by Royal Air Maroc, noting the airline’s interest in the Airbus A220, a small to medium-range aircraft well suited to its European network.
Furthermore, the Paris Air Show marked a strong start for Morocco with the signing of a major contract with Boeing. The American aerospace giant signed a partnership agreement with Casablanca Aviation, a subsidiary of the French group Figeac Aero, to produce automated aluminum parts for the Boeing 737 Max.
This commitment is part of the continuation of a cooperation protocol signed in 2016 between Boeing and Moroccan authorities, reflecting the company’s desire to strengthen Morocco’s industrial base and sustainably consolidate its supply chains in the kingdom.
Morocco aims to become a regional and international hub for aviation manufacturing, leveraging its geographic location and industrial capabilities, alongside ambitious plans to expand airport capacities and the Royal Air Maroc fleet, in line with King Mohammed VI’s vision to make the kingdom a major air transport center in Africa and the Mediterranean region.
