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, according to the Associated Press (AP).
With demand for new aircrafts soaring and companies like Boeing and Airbus scrambling to ramp up production, the AP suggests that Morocco is positioning itself as an attractive destination for firms aiming to diversify their supply chains and tap into a skilled, cost-effective workforce.
Hamid Abbou, CEO of the state-owned carrier Royal Air Maroc, expressed confidence in Morocco’s position in a statement to AP.
“The needs are huge, and we are in a very good position,” Abbou said. “Most of the big suppliers in Europe are struggling to get people to work in this industry. We don’t have that issue.”
The AP report 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 producers of planes, trains, and automobiles.
Morocco’s aviation industry currently encompasses some 130 companies, spanning the production of critical components such as wings and fuselages, notes the AP report. The sector has played a key role in boosting women’s economic participation, with females accounting for an impressive 42% of the aerospace workforce — a larger proportion than in Europe and North America.
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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, according to the AP report.
“It’s the access to well-qualified talent that’s been well-trained,” the AP reports Safran CEO Jean-Paul Alary as saying at an event marking the company’s 25-year partnership with Royal Air Maroc. “They are the key players for achieving our goals.”
The AP notes that 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.
However, the AP points out that the industry’s ambitions face stiff headwinds. The pandemic-induced slowdown in air travel, coupled with high-profile emergencies and crashes involving Boeing aircraft, have hindered manufacturers’ ability to meet resurgent demand from airlines.
The AP report suggests that from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia, the scramble to clear order backlogs has prompted companies to scour the globe for new production and maintenance facilities. Morocco is vying against a lengthy roster of contenders, each hungry for a larger slice of the aviation pie.
Nevertheless, the AP indicates that Moroccan officials remain bullish about the kingdom’s prospects. By leveraging its geographic proximity to Europe, longstanding ties with industry titans like Safran, and a burgeoning pool of cost-competitive talent, Morocco is confident it can capture an outsized share of new aerospace investment.
