Morocco is advancing the development of two specialized industrial zones for the defense sector totaling 675 hectares, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to reduce reliance on foreign arms imports and establish a domestic military-industrial base.
The Société de gestion des zones industrielles de défense (SGZID) presented details of the platforms on October 7 at the Marrakech Air Show, leDesk reported.
The smaller site, covering 75 hectares in Nouaceur near Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport and the port, will focus on a range of defense-related industrial activities.
The larger one, spanning 600 hectares in Sidi Yahya (near Rabat-Salé Airport and the future Kenitra port area), is geared toward weapons, ammunition, and broader defense production, including testing and storage facilities, leDesk said.
Both zones are designed as “ready-to-operate” acceleration platforms with high-security infrastructure, logistics connectivity, single-window administrative services, and facilities tailored to the specific needs of defense manufacturing.
SGZID, a joint venture between the military housing agency (ALEM) and MEDZ (a CDG subsidiary), was created to develop, manage, and market these sites under the framework of Law 10.20 on defense and security equipment.
The zones have already drawn interest from multiple investors, including plans by India’s MKU for a facility in Nouaceur producing ballistic protection and electro-optical systems.
These initiatives formed a key backdrop to remarks by Minister Delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration Abdeltif Loudiyi at the opening of the eighth Marrakech Air Show on October 7.
Loudiyi outlined Morocco’s strategic shift “from a model of importing defense capabilities to building national capacity and defense sovereignty.”
