Morocco has sealed a landmark agreement to establish what will become Africa’s largest aircraft-engine assembly hub, marking a major step in the country’s ambition to position itself as a leading player in the global aerospace industry.
Backed by French aerospace giant Safran, the new complex places Morocco among the few countries worldwide assembling aircraft engines.
Located within the Midparc industrial zone in Nouaceur, the site will become the world’s second-largest LEAP-1A production hub, after Safran’s flagship Villaroche plant in France.
Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour made the announcement in Rabat during the third edition of the National Industry Day (JNI), describing the initiative as the culmination of 26 years of consistent industrial policy and visionary leadership under King Mohammed VI.
Mezzour revealed that before now, Morocco had limited itself to manufacturing engine covers but has now progressed to producing the entire reactor, including the hot sections. This advancement marks a significant technological and industrial leap for the country.
The €350 million investment will include a final assembly plant for LEAP-1A engines, the same model powering Airbus A320neo aircraft and a facility for engine maintenance and repair.
The project, which will be Africa’s largest aircraft engine assembly hub on completion, is expected to create nearly 900 direct jobs by 2030, with the assembly plant handling up to 350 engines annually and the maintenance facility servicing 150 engines per year.
It further strengthens Safran’s two-decade partnership with Morocco, where the company already operates several sites producing engine components, wiring systems, and MRO services.
Morocco’s aviation sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years. In 2024, aerospace exports rose 17.3% to reach MAD 21.86 billion ($2.1 billion), surpassing the previous year’s record.
The new Safran complex cements Morocco’s role as Africa’s top aerospace hub and a key player in the global aviation supply chain, reflecting the country’s ambition to move up the industrial value chain while creating high-skilled jobs for its growing workforce.
Morocco’s industrial leap and Africa’s manufacturing momentum
In 2024, Morocco’s aviation manufacturing sector recorded unprecedented growth, as exports surged 17.3% to reach MAD 21.86 billion ($2.1 billion) in the first ten months, surpassing the entire previous year’s record of MAD 21.85 billion.
The North African nation solidified its position as Africa’s leading producer of aviation equipment and spare parts, ranking fifth globally among the most dynamic countries in the sector, according to Afaf Saïdi, Director of Aviation, Railway, Naval Industries and Renewable Energies at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour explained that Morocco has moved beyond assembling aircraft engine covers to now producing entire engines including the complex hot sections that require high-level precision and advanced metallurgy.
This transformation, he noted, symbolizes Morocco’s transition from an assembly-based economy to one of innovation and full-cycle production. “This project alone should double Morocco’s aerospace sector exports and generate substantial ripple effects for the national economy,” Mezzour said.
The minister credited the country’s success to its long-term strategy anchored on three pillars – specialized workforce training, renewable energy integration, and strong public-private partnerships.
Since 2021, Morocco’s industrial exports have more than doubled, with local investors now holding 70% of industrial share capital.
With this new complex, Morocco joins the select group of nations capable of assembling aircraft engines. This strategic positioning of the Kingdom illustrates its industrial upgrading and the lasting consolidation of its technological base.
“We do not produce in Morocco, but with Morocco,” declared Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran GrouBoard, praising the Kingdom’s stability and investment environment.
Business leaders, including Chakib Alj, president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, praised Morocco’s success as proof of what coordinated public-private collaboration can achieve.
He emphasized that this new phase of industrialization positions Morocco, and Africa more broadly as a rising force in global manufacturing, capable of shaping the continent’s economic future through innovation, sustainability, and industrial pride.
