Morocco plans to double the number of jobs in the kingdom’s growing aeronautics sector by 2030, Morocco’s Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour told the crowd on Wednesday at the opening of the 2024 Marrakech Air Show.
With its “political stability, advanced infrastructure, strategic location, and skilled young workforce,” Mezzour asserted that Morocco is a “reliable” partner for international aeronautics companies.
“Morocco has proven capable of producing any aircraft part, and we aim to move toward full aircraft production in the future,” he said. He credited the forward-looking vision of King Mohammed VI, which has guided the nation’s aeronautics advancements over the past two decades, attracting partnerships with top global companies.
Already a success story, Morocco’s aeronautics sector employs over 20,000 people with a sector integration rate in excess of 40%, according to Khalid Safir, Director-General of the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG). Safir called the Marrakech Air Show a “symbol of Morocco’s commitment to aerospace and defense.”
“Today, Morocco’s aeronautics industry has become a powerful force, the result of shared vision and collective effort. It has turned Morocco into a highly competitive, best-cost destination for high-tech industries,” Safir said.
CDG’s subsidiary, MEDZ, is supporting the sector’s growth by developing high-quality industrial zones designed to meet Morocco’s strategic needs, according to Safir. MEDZ now operates 16 industrial parks covering over 2,600 hectares nationwide.
Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Morocco’s national airline, has been at the forefront of this aeronautics expansion, according to its CEO, Abdelhamid Addou. RAM has an ambitious roadmap from now through 2038 that includes plans to quadruple its fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft, increase annual passengers from 7 million to 35 million, and raise annual revenue from USD 2 billion to USD 9 billion.
The industry has experienced remarkable growth that has put Morocco among the top global players in aeronautics, “positioning it as a magnet for international investment,” Addou said.