فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, chaired today, Monday in Nouaceur, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, the ceremony for the presentation and launch of construction works for the aircraft engines industrial complex belonging to the Safran Group. This flagship project strengthens Morocco’s position as a global strategic hub for the aviation industry.
The complex, which will be hosted within the integrated industrial platform dedicated to aviation and aerospace professions “Midpark” in Nouaceur, will include a factory for assembling and testing aircraft engines for the Safran Group, as well as another facility dedicated to maintenance and repair activities of the new generation LEAP aircraft engines.
These two benchmark factories, distinguished by efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, represent more than just industrial investments; they enhance the exceptional partnership between Safran and Morocco and embody His Majesty’s firm will to elevate the aviation sector to the highest levels of technological competitiveness.
At the opening of the ceremony, a corporate video was presented highlighting the development witnessed by the aviation sector, one of Morocco’s global industries during recent years, thanks to the bold reforms and major initiatives launched by His Majesty the King.
On this occasion, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour delivered a speech to His Majesty affirming that thanks to the King’s visionary leadership, Morocco has become an indispensable global destination in advanced sectors. He noted that in less than two decades, through ambitious, successive, and integrated strategies led by His Majesty, the Kingdom has built a world-class aviation industry.
Mr. Mezzour explained that the sector’s export turnover achieved a remarkable leap, rising from less than 1 billion dirhams in 2004 to more than 26 billion dirhams in 2024. He pointed out that the sector now includes over 150 players, among them the largest global manufacturers, representing a true showcase of national industrial expertise.
Furthermore, the minister recalled that Safran, a historic partner of the Kingdom for 25 years, renews today its confidence in Morocco’s platform by establishing an integrated complex for manufacturing, testing, maintenance, and repair of aircraft engines of world-class level.
Mr. Mezzour added that this involves building a maintenance and repair factory for aircraft engines costing 1.3 billion dirhams, with an annual maintenance capacity of 150 engines and providing 600 direct jobs by 2030.
He also mentioned the development of a factory for manufacturing and testing commercial aircraft engines of the LEAP 1-A model, notably used in Airbus A320 Neo aircraft.
The minister confirmed that this investment, valued at 2.1 billion dirhams, with an assembly capacity of 350 engines per year, will create 300 highly qualified jobs by 2029.
He emphasized that this project, the world’s second-largest site for producing the LEAP-1A engine, will consolidate Morocco’s position within the global value chain of aircraft engine manufacturers and attract new manufacturers into the national ecosystem. He noted that the aviation industry considers its ability to generate permanent and qualified jobs for youth its first challenge.
Chairman of the Board of Safran Group, Mr. Ross Makynis, stated that His Majesty’s chairing of this ceremony bears deep significance for the group. It reflects not only the King’s commitment to industrial development in Morocco but also the ideal investment environment that the King continuously fosters through enlightened, bold, and visionary leadership.
After highlighting the distinguished economic and industrial relations between France and Morocco, Mr. Makynis affirmed that Safran “does not just produce in Morocco, but with Morocco,” a strategic country for the company.
On this occasion, he renewed Safran’s commitment to maintain this strong partnership with Morocco, saying, “Together, we are committed to developing and accelerating the Moroccan aviation sector’s economy.”
Similarly, Safran Group CEO Olivier Andrieux affirmed that the decision to establish the new Safran aircraft engine industrial complex in Morocco was no coincidence, stressing that the group chose a country endowed with skills, modern infrastructure, and a stable macroeconomic framework.
He added, “But more importantly, we were guided by the trust inspired by the momentum led by Your Majesty to make the Kingdom a globally competitive industrial platform.”
Mr. Andrieux continued: “Today, these two projects and the ongoing expansions in three other group sites represent investments exceeding 350 million euros and will generate thousands of jobs across the entire Moroccan aviation industry ecosystem.”
Following this, His Majesty King Mohammed VI presided over the signing ceremony of three agreements. The first was a memorandum of understanding setting commitments between the State and Safran Group for establishing the Safran aircraft engines assembly and testing factory.
Signatories included Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Mr. Karim Zidan, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Coordination, and Evaluation of Public Policies, and Mr. Olivier Andrieux.
The second agreement was a memorandum related to supplying Safran sites with renewable energy.
It was signed by Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of Interior; Mr. Ryad Mezzour; Mr. Mohamed Ouahmed, General Secretary of the Energy Transition Sector; Mr. Olivier Andrieux; Mr. Youssef Tazi, CEO of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Multi-Service Company; Ms. Fatima Knouni, CEO of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Regional Multi-Service Company; and Mr. Adel Khmiss, CEO of Morocco Wind Energy Company Narieva.
The third document was the agreement establishing the Safran aircraft engines assembly and testing factory at the Midpark platform.
Signatories included Mr. Khalid Safir, CEO of the Deposit and Management Fund; Mr. Stéphane Coeuil, President of Safran Aircraft Engines; Mr. Marwan Abd El-Aty, CEO of “Meds”; and Mr. Hamid Ben Ibrahim Al-Andalusi, CEO of Midpark.
Thereafter, in the presence of His Majesty, the new-generation LEAP-1A aircraft engine, embodying the latest innovations in materials and manufacturing processes, was unveiled.
On this occasion, His Majesty King Mohammed VI also took a commemorative photo with a group of young trainees from the Aviation Professions Institute in Nouaceur, preparing to join the future aircraft engine maintenance factory, before supervising the launch of the construction works for the Safran industrial complex for aircraft engines.
As a global leader in manufacturing engines for short- and medium-haul aircraft and the third-largest player worldwide in the aviation sector outside aircraft manufacturing, the Safran Group has strengthened its presence in Morocco, where it chose to establish itself 25 years ago. This reflects the qualitative progress of the Moroccan aerospace industry thanks to the enlightened vision and leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
