Africa’s biggest aircraft engine plant to be set up in Morocco

Morocco has signed a deal with French aerospace group Safran to develop Africa’s largest aircraft engine assembly facility, establishing Morocco’s position in the global aviation manufacturing industry, according to a Business Insider report on November 7th.  

The plant will be built in the Midparc industrial zone near Casablanca, and the project is expected to be worth €350 million, making Morocco the second country in the world, after France, to have a LEAP-1A engine assembly facility. The LEAP-1A engine powers Airbus A320neo aircraft, one of the world’s most widely used planes.

Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour emphasised that the new facility plan reflects more than two decades of steady industrial policy and will promote Morocco from producing engine covers to assembling full engines.

Once fully operational, the plant will include a maintenance and repair centre and is expected to assemble up to 350 engines and service around 150 engines per year, directly creating nearly 900 jobs by 2030.

This project will expand Safran’s two-decade partnership with Morocco, with several production and service sites functional in the country.

Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran, praised the partnership, saying, “We do not produce in Morocco, but with Morocco,” highlighting the country’s growing industrial presence. 

Morocco’s aviation sector has noticed rapid growth in recent years as aerospace exports reached MAD 21.86 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2024, up 17.3% from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The new project will likely double the export capacity in the coming years.

The country’s infrastructure is also undergoing significant development, while preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2030, which will be hosted by Morocco along with Spain and Portugal.

Chakib Alj, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), lauded Morocco’s shift from assembling to full-cycle manufacturing, fuelled by a skilled workforce, renewable energy, and long-term public-private cooperation.

Alj highlighted that Morocco’s latest industrial phase strengthens the country’s and Africa’s position as a key emerging player in global manufacturing and economic development.

Additionally, the CGEM recently signed a trade agreement with the EU to boost Moroccan exports to European markets.

Business Insider, Maghrebi.org