Latest news with #RyadMezzour
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco attracts 150 aerospace firms
Morocco is cementing its position as a global aerospace hub after attracting 150 companies operating factories nationwide and generating 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in annual revenue, a Moroccan Minister has said. Speaking to French newspaper 'Le Point' at the renowned Paris Air Show, Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour said these projects are concentrated in Casablanca, Tangier, Rabat and Fez In his comments, published by Morocco's newspapers, he said these enterprises provide full-time employment to 26,000 individuals and that their primary focus include producing fuselages, structural components, interior furnishings, and wiring systems. Mezzour also highlighted collaboration between national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and French aerospace giant Safran concerning the CFM engine. 'During French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Morocco last October, an agreement was signed extending the partnership to the next-generation CFM-Leap engine,' the Minister said. 'Morocco's competitive edge lies in its ability to handle advanced technology, with 23,000 engineers graduating annually, 400 of whom enter the aerospace field…production costs are competitive at €25 per hour, compared to €100-120 in Europe or the US,' he said. Looking ahead, the minister outlined ambitious plans: 'We will expand our offer to cabin fittings, landing gear manufacturing, and within ten years, we think we can offer a final assembly line for commercial aircraft.' He revealed that RAM is currently exploring the acquisition of the Airbus A220, a narrow-body jet well-suited for its European routes. 'A study is underway by RAM for procuring the Airbus A220, a small-to-medium range jet suited for its European network,' he said. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Morocco World
21 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Emerges as Aerospace Powerhouse with 150 Firms, €2.5 Billion Revenue
Marrakech – Morocco is cementing its position as a global aerospace hub, boasting 150 companies operating factories nationwide and generating €2.5 billion in annual revenue. Speaking to French newspaper 'Le Point' at the renowned Paris Air Show, Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour shared insights into the sector's remarkable growth. These aerospace enterprises, concentrated in Casablanca, Tangier, Rabat and Fez, provide full-time employment to 26,000 individuals. Their primary focus lies in producing fuselages, structural components, interior furnishings, and wiring systems. Mezzour also shed light on the collaboration between national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and French aerospace giant Safran concerning the CFM engine. 'During French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Morocco last October, an agreement was signed extending the partnership to the next-generation CFM-Leap engine,' he stated. Morocco's competitive edge lies in its ability to handle advanced technology, with 23,000 engineers graduating annually, 400 of whom enter the aerospace field. 'Production costs are competitive at €25 per hour, compared to €100-120 in Europe or the US,' Mezzour stressed. Looking ahead, the minister outlined ambitious plans: 'We will expand our offer to cabin fittings, landing gear manufacturing, and within ten years, we think we can offer a final assembly line for commercial aircraft.' He expressed confidence in doubling the sector's turnover by 2030. RAM is currently exploring the acquisition of the Airbus A220, a narrow-body jet well-suited for its European routes. 'A study is underway for an aircraft order by RAM, which is interested in the Airbus A220, a small-to-medium range jet suited for its European network,' Mezzour confirmed. The air show kicked off with a bang for Morocco as aviation titan Boeing inked a major deal, signaling a new chapter in its Moroccan investment strategy. Casablanca Aeronautique, a subsidiary of French group Figeac Aero, entered into a partnership agreement to manufacture machined structural parts for Boeing's 737 MAX program. This agreement builds upon a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between Boeing and the Moroccan government. 'This commitment underscores the planemaker's desire to strengthen Morocco's industrial base and sustainably anchor its supply chains in the country,' Mezzour concluded. Tags: aerospace industry in moroccoMorocco aeronautics industryRyad Mezzour
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Industrial Sovereignty: Morocco Selects 1,839 Projects Worth $12.49 Billion
Doha – On Monday, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour announced that 1,839 industrial projects have been selected as part of efforts to boost Morocco's industrial sovereignty. The projects, selected up until June 10, represent a total investment of MAD 124.9 billion ($12.49 billion). They aim to strengthen domestic production capacities, reduce Morocco's reliance on imports, and are expected to generate 179,825 jobs across key manufacturing sectors. Speaking at the House of Representatives, Mezzour, through Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira, stated that these projects are expected to create 179,825 jobs. He stressed that this initiative seeks to increase domestic manufacturing of goods that can be produced in Morocco as a substitute for imported products. Mezzour also pointed out the significant progress made by the industrial sector under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. He attributed this to the various industrial plans implemented over the past two decades. The minister noted that this momentum has been further reinforced following the COVID-19 pandemic through the adoption of a new strategy. This strategy aims to position Morocco as a decarbonized industrial platform, enhance its industrial sovereignty, improve competitiveness, and reduce the trade deficit. The selection of these projects represents a key step towards achieving these objectives and bolstering Morocco's industrial self-sufficiency. Tags: Moroccan IndustryRyad Mezzour
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Takes Flight at Paris Air Show, Signaling Its Rise as an Aerospace Hub
Rabat – Morocco is taking center stage at the 55th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget between June 16-22, joining more than 2,500 exhibitors, over 130,000 professional visitors, and 322 official delegations. Morocco's Participation is far from ceremonial, as it's a carefully crafted move in the country's broader strategy to cement its role as a high‑value aeronautics hub. From the outset, the Moroccan delegation has outlined the strategic importance of the Bourget showcase. Minister of Industry Ryad Mezzour and Minister of Transport Abdessamad Kayouh, in addition to Minister in charge of investment Karim Zidane, lead the delegation, which also includes top executives from Royal Air Maroc, AMDIE, ONDA and GIMAS. Strategic presence The delegation represents Morocco with a clear message: Morocco is open for business, with an ecosystem ready to scale. The AMDIE-GIMAS 'Pavillon Maroc' hosts six homegrown champions in wiring, precision machining, and aerostructure. Alongside exhibition stands, a packed schedule of one‑on‑one meetings will connect Moroccan suppliers to decision‑makers and international companies operating across the entire aerospace value chain. The discussions are expected to promote the investment opportunities available in industrial zones like Nouaceur and Tangier Free Zone, where companies benefit from tax incentives, fast-track administrative support, and access to a skilled labor force trained through public-private programs. Beyond these activities, Morocco's presence at the Paris Air Show reflects a deeper strategy built around core priorities. Over the past two decades, Morocco has identified aeronautics as a 'strategic sector' capable of driving industrial diversification, job creation, and technology transfer. Today, over 140 firms operate in Morocco's aerospace cluster, spanning wiring harnesses, precision machining, assembly, and engineering services, with a local integration rate exceeding 40%. Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, 'a strong aerospace industry has developed over the past 20 years, now offering incredible potential and opportunities for global players in the sector,' said Mezzour in a statement about Morocco's participation in the Paris Air Show. The country is focused on upgrading its industrial base by moving up the value chain. This includes producing wiring harnesses and simple subassemblies, as well as manufacturing high-precision engine components that require tighter tolerances, advanced alloys, and more sophisticated quality control systems. Nouaceur, Morocco's aerospace engine Morocco is also working to attract major international investors, with recent examples including Pratt & Whitney Canada's new engine parts facility in Midparc Free Zone in Nouaceur. The new manufacturing facility, inaugurated in May 2024, served as a key milestone in the diversification of Morocco's aerospace ecosystem. Named Pratt & Whitney Morocco (PWM), the plant will machine high‑precision static and structural parts for the PT6 and other turboprop engines. Beyond its immediate output, PWM symbolizes the shift from assembling airframe components to manufacturing engine parts, a change that demands advanced machining centers, tighter tolerances, and a workforce trained in aerospace metallurgy and quality assurance. Notably, Canada's Shimco, a global provider of engineered fastening solutions and assembly technology, also established a presence in the Midparc industrial platform at Nouaceur, In addition, the country is investing heavily in human capital, as it is expanding training programs at the Institut des Métiers de l'Aéronautique (IMA) and strengthening partnerships between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Moroccan universities. The goal is to certify thousands of technicians in critical areas such as CNC machining, metrology, and composite materials. This aims to ensure that the workforce can keep pace with the industry's technological demands. In Nouaceur, the Pratt & Whitney Morocco plant is already installing ultra‑high‑precision five‑axis machining centres, poised to deliver stator rings and structural brackets for the PT6 turboprop engine. Shimco's fastening‑technology line, meanwhile, will serve both aerospace and adjacent sectors, leveraging Midparc's connectivity to Mohammed V Airport and the Tanger Med port. This twin push of deepening aeronautics while knitting together automotive and renewable‑energy investments reflects Morocco's ambition to hedge against single‑industry risk. The country aims to boost installed solar and wind capacity by 6.5 GW by 2027, targeting a 52 % share of renewables by 2030. In the medium term, Nouaceur and the surrounding Free Zones are poised to become a dynamic corridor where aerospace, automotive, and green energy industries intersect. Morocco's strategy is delivering results, as local integration rates in aeronautics have climbed above 40 %, exports now exceed $ 2 billion annually, and the aerospace workforce tops 40,000. But more than numbers, the country is winning investors' trust. By offering turn‑key investment packages, streamlined logistics, and a growing cadre of certified technicians, Morocco has shown that it can deliver the precision and reliability once exclusive to traditional European clusters. Tags: AeronauticsAerospaceParis Air Show
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Arts et Métiers Campus of Rabat Honors First Bachelor Graduates in Industry Technologies
Rabat – On Friday, June 13, Arts et Métiers Campus of Rabat celebrated a milestone by awarding diplomas to its inaugural class of Bachelor graduates in Technologies for Industry of the Future. The ceremony took place in Art et Métier's Rabat campus and gathered students, faculty members, families, academic and industrial partners, alongside key representatives from the school's Board, the Ministries of Higher Education and Economy, and the French Embassy. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, led the ceremony with the presence of Laurent Champaney, Director General of Arts et Métiers France. Their attendance noted the ceremony's significance for Morocco's education and industry sectors. Women make up 40% of this first graduating class, signaling the campus's dedication to inclusion and equal opportunity. Impressively, 60% of these graduates secured job contracts before receiving their diplomas. Since its foundation, Arts et Métiers Rabat has established itself as a key institution for training engineers and top-level managers in Morocco and beyond. This ceremony also recognized the graduates' achievements as they prepare to enter the workforce and contribute to their country's progress. Arts et Métiers Campus of Rabat is committed to excellence and international partnership, aiming to produce professionals who will innovate and help drive the socioeconomic development of Morocco and Africa. In August 2024, the Moroccan government officially recognized the Arts et Métiers Campus in Rabat. Tags: Arts et MétiersArts et Métiers Campus of RabatMorocco education
