Morocco mulls military industry zones

The Moroccan government is considering the creation of defense industry zones as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on imports and create local military industry clusters.

The statement was made by minister delegate in charge of national defense Abdellatif Loudiyi who told members of Parliament that the government was considering creating military industry zones to promote investments.

Many companies submitted investment proposals in the defense industry field which requires specific technical, economic, legal, and technological criteria, he said.

In 2020, Morocco’s House of Representatives passed a law seeking to attract foreign investment, promote innovation and expand the country’s defense industrial base.

According to Frost & Sullivan group, a research and consulting firm, Morocco is set to become a weapons’ producing country in the few coming years as the country is set to host foreign factories specialized in arms manufacturing by 2025.

Morocco has one of the largest armies in Africa and one of the largest defense budgets on the continent.

It has included a defense industry dimension in its recent military cooperation deals with Brazil and the US to mention but a few.