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French Safran Group announced Monday the setting up of Morocco’s first aircraft engine manufacturing complex in Nouaceur, near Casablanca.
The initiative was officially presented during a high-profile ceremony presided over by King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.
The new industrial complex, located within the Midparc integrated aerospace platform, will comprise two cutting-edge facilities: one dedicated to the assembly and testing of Safran’s LEAP aircraft engines, and another focused on the maintenance and repair of these next-generation propulsion systems.
This strategic investment marks a significant milestone in Morocco’s industrial development, reflecting the Sovereign’s unwavering commitment to elevating the national aerospace sector to the highest levels of technological competitiveness.
A film presented at the ceremony highlighted the sector’s rapid growth over the past two decades, driven by bold reforms and visionary leadership.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour emphasized Morocco’s transformation into a global destination for advanced industries.
“In less than twenty years, Morocco has built a world-class aerospace industry,” he said, noting that export revenues in the sector have surged from under 1 billion dirhams in 2004 to over 26 billion dirhams in 2024.
Safran, a longstanding partner of Morocco for over 25 years, is deepening its commitment through this new complex.
The maintenance facility, representing an investment of 1.3 billion dirhams, will handle up to 150 engines annually and create 600 direct jobs by 2030. The assembly and testing plant, focused on LEAP-1A engines used in Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, will have a capacity of 350 engines per year and generate 300 highly skilled jobs by 2029.
This will be Safran’s second LEAP-1A production site globally, positioning Morocco firmly within the international aerospace value chain and attracting additional suppliers to the national ecosystem.
Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran’s Board of Directors, emphasized that the new engine complex in Nouaceur is a “concrete translation of the strong industrial bond between France and Morocco.”
He noted that the project goes beyond industrial investment, reflecting Morocco’s strategic importance to Safran.
Safran, which has more than 25 years of presence in the Kingdom and a network of ten sites contributing to key activities such as engine maintenance, aeronautical cabling, and aircraft nacelles, continues to invest and grow in Morocco.
“This is possible because Safran does not produce in Morocco, but with Morocco,” McInnes said. He also highlighted the symbolic significance of the Sovereign’s presence at the ceremony, underscoring the exemplary investment climate fostered by His Majesty’s forward-looking vision.
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, reinforced this message, stating that the decision to establish the new complex in Morocco reflects the Group’s confidence in “a country endowed with talent, modern infrastructure, and a stable macroeconomic framework.”
He praised the momentum driven by King Mohammed VI to position Morocco as a globally competitive industrial platform. Andriès noted that Safran’s Moroccan facilities are central to its global production and maintenance network, particularly in supporting the LEAP engine program.
Andriès also announced the creation of a LEAP engine assembly line in Casablanca – the largest outside France – where 300 employees will assemble up to 350 engines per year for Airbus A320neo aircraft.
He emphasized that Morocco will play a central role in Safran’s most ambitious industrial challenge to date: supporting aircraft manufacturers, especially Airbus, in ramping up production of narrow-body jets.
“Today, these two projects and the ongoing expansions at three other sites represent an investment of over €350 million and will create thousands of jobs across Morocco’s aerospace ecosystem,” Andriès concluded.
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