Casablanca – Morocco has signed an agreement with US aerospace company Curtiss-Wright Corporation to expand the group’s operations into the country, bringing one of the aerospace industry’s most specialized manufacturing activities to Casablanca, which is already home to almost 70% of aerospace companies operating in the country.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK. It will see Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies (CWST) establish operations in the Casablanca region, where it will provide advanced surface treatment services for aircraft parts.
The announcement is one of Morocco’s latest efforts to evolve in the aerospace industry. For the last two decades, manufacturers based in the country built aircraft wiring, machined metal parts, composite components, and other systems.
However, many high-value metal parts still had to be shipped abroad for specialized surface treatments before returning to the production line. These processes, which include treatments that improve resistance to corrosion, wear, and mechanical stress, are required for critical aircraft components such as landing gear and engine parts.
Those processes strengthen metal components and protect them against corrosion, heat, and repeated stress. They are essential for parts such as landing gear and engine components.
A missing piece falls into place
With CWST setting up in Casablanca, those treatments can now be carried out locally. Instead of sending parts abroad and waiting for them to return, manufacturers will be able to complete more of the production process inside Morocco. The project is also expected to increase Morocco’s local integration rate, which currently stands at 42%.
The project also fits into a much bigger industrial picture. Earlier this year, Safran Landing Systems announced a €280 million landing gear factory in Casablanca. Landing gear components require highly specialized surface treatments, creating demand for companies such as Curtiss-Wright to operate close to production sites.
The company also arrives as Morocco continues to strengthen its position within Boeing’s supplier network, which already includes more than 120 suppliers in the kingdom.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ray Lopuc, Senior Vice President and head of Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies’ Metal Improvement Company division, told MAP that the agreement opens a new chapter between the company and Morocco.
He noted that the project marks Curtiss-Wright’s first investment on the African continent and said the company plans to expand beyond Casablanca over time.
Read also: Safran Expands Morocco Operations with MAD 350 Million Investment
AMDIE Director General Ali Seddiki said the agreement reflects the maturity of Morocco’s aerospace ecosystem and follows recent investments in critical aircraft manufacturing, including Safran’s landing gear project.
The project is also expected to support workforce training through the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique in Casablanca, where technicians are trained for the aerospace industry, including specialized manufacturing processes that remain in high demand worldwide.
Founded in 1929 and based in North Carolina, Curtiss-Wright operates in the aerospace, defense, energy, and industrial sectors. The company generated around $3.5 billion in revenue in 2025 and employs more than 8,900 people.
Morocco’s aerospace sector now includes more than 155 companies, employs over 25,000 people, exports more than $3 billion worth of products each year, and has recorded average annual growth of around 17% over the past two decades.
