Morocco Set to Become Hub for Aeronautic Industries

Morocco is forging ahead with its industrialization plan, which attaches particular importance to aviation-related industries. The recent opening of Latsima’s factory to supply Airbus is part of an endeavor to make Morocco a hub for aeronautic industries by attracting component suppliers for leading aircraft manufacturers.

The new factory is located in the outskirts of Casablanca and stretches over a surface area of 6000m2 with a total investment of €10 million in 5 years. Latsima is specializing in cabling and manufacturing avionic racks and cockpits for Airbus A350 and A320.

Latisma is part of a growing aeronautics sector in Morocco that takes advantage of its low labor costs and proximity to Europe to supply components to manufacturers there and the US.

The industry, employing 11,500 people, has achieved in 2015 exports worth $1 billion and has been recording a growth rate of 15 % annually.

Morocco’s aim is to create 23,000 jobs in the aeronautic sector by 2020, increase exports to $1.6 billion per year and boost to 35% the proportion of locally-produced components.

There are 100 European and American companies operating in the country, including Bombardier, Alcoa and Stelia, a subsidiary of Airbus.

Training features prominently in Morocco’s plan to boost its attractiveness for aviation industry investments. The IMA aeronautics institute (Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique), near Casablanca’s international airport, equips aerospace companies with skilled workforce to meet manufacturing requirements.