Morocco’s aerospace ecosystem soars

According to Forbes, Morocco’s aeronautical industry is on “a remarkable trajectory, poised to become a leader in the global aerospace sector”.

Today, around 142 companies operate in the four ecosystems of the sector: assembly, the electrical wiring interconnect system, MRO and engineering. With an export turnover of $2 billion and a local integration rate of 40 per cent, this sector employs 20,000 people trained in dedicated national institutes.

With strategic location advantages, government support, skilled labour, and strong partnerships with leading aerospace companies, Morocco offers a fertile ground for investment and growth.

Shimco, a Canadian aerospace company, has chosen the MidParc industrial zone, around 30 km south of Casablanca metropolis, to implant a new 15,000 m² plant. It will manufacture peelable and solid shims, pins, bushings, washers, brackets, spacers and small parts, mainly for the global aerospace and defense industries.

According to Peter Voss, CEO of Shimco, Morocco offers many advantages – “production, costs and logistic location near to Europe and Africa”.

Figeac Aéro, the leading partner of major aerospace manufacturers inaugurated last February a new production unit of 4,000 m² in Casablanca to produce high value-added parts for the nacelle used in Airbus A320neo powered by LEAP-1A engines.

The facility is now ready for series production and will ramp up to reach cruising speed by the end of 2024. The new production unit is the result of close cooperation between the group’s French and Moroccan teams and those from Safran Nacelles.

Moreover, Spanish Aerospace group Aciturri has recently taken a strategic initiative to install a new site in 2024 following the acquisition in 2023 of Midparc-based GOAM Industrie.

The Midparc industrial zone will aslo welcome the first German group. "Böllhoff's choice to set up in Midparc is motivated by the performance of the business model it offers, allowing it to co-locate part of its production in Morocco, especially in the presence of the strong demand for the kingdom," explained Benbrahim El Andaloussi, CEO of Midparc.

Swedish Trelleborg Group, specialising in the manufacture of sealing systems for the aeronautics sector, will also set up a new industrial unit in Morocco, worth 11 million euros.

As Ryad Mezzour, minister of industry and trade underlined, these partnerships contribute to “the strengthening of Morocco's industrial competitiveness, while promoting significant local integration".

Finally, in May Safran and RAM celebrated the 25th anniversary of its engine MRO shop with an extension of their partnership.