At the Marrakech International Airshow in October 2026, Safran's LEAP engine was prominently displayed, highlighting the significant advancements in Morocco's aviation sector. The industry is on the brink of a remarkable transformation, with forecasts suggesting that exports could reach approximately 50 billion dirhams (around $5 billion) in the next two years. This surge is a substantial increase from roughly $3 billion reported in the previous year, driven by a wave of investment and a global rise in demand, as Morocco shifts towards higher value-added industrial and technological activities.
As of the end of August, aviation exports had already reached nearly 30 billion dirhams, marking a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. This growth positions the sector as the best performer among Morocco's export industries, according to data from the Office des Changes. The export figures during this period match the total output of the sector for the entire previous year, underscoring the rapid escalation of its contribution to the economy.
Mohamed Belatiq, president of the Moroccan Aerospace Industries Association (GIMAS), revealed in an interview with Asharq Bloomberg that the sector currently encompasses around 150 companies, having expanded two and a half times in the last decade. He is optimistic that exports are set to reach a record high, surpassing $5 billion within the next two years.
The aviation sector currently provides 25,000 jobs, with women representing 40% of the workforce. Major players in the industry, including Boeing, Airbus, and Safran, are involved in manufacturing various aircraft components and assembling others, establishing Morocco as a crucial link in the global value chain of the aviation industry.
Toufik Moshref, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, noted that Morocco has successfully built a solid industrial base in aviation over the past quarter-century. The country's advantageous geographical location, international-standard infrastructure, political stability, and skilled workforce, along with a competitive and stable investment offer, have made it an increasingly attractive destination for global companies.
Moreover, the Moroccan aviation ecosystem has evolved beyond merely manufacturing aircraft parts; it now encompasses the production of components, wiring, systems integration, engine maintenance, and assembly. Moshref emphasized that recent projects, particularly in the area of engines and landing systems, reflect the sector's transition towards higher value-added and technological activities. This shift is gradually transforming Morocco from a mere manufacturing base into a technological partner within global value chains.
Safran’s expansion epitomizes this transition. In October 2025, the group launched a comprehensive aircraft engine project in the Nouacer area near Casablanca, which includes a facility for assembling and testing LEAP-1A engines and another for the maintenance and repair of LEAP engines. The assembly plant has a capacity of 350 engines annually, while the maintenance facility can handle 150 engines, with investments exceeding 350 million euros allocated for these projects and their related expansions.
In February 2026, Safran further solidified its presence with an additional investment of over 280 million euros to establish a plant dedicated to aircraft landing systems in Nouacer, expected to generate 500 jobs once operational. This site will encompass precision manufacturing, assembly, testing, certification, and advanced maintenance activities.
Moshref asserts that this trajectory enhances the technological complexity of Morocco's industry, as the Kingdom's ambitions extend beyond merely attracting investments to elevating the position of existing companies in the global value chains and fostering research, development, engineering, and technology activities.
Looking ahead, Morocco aims to achieve full aircraft assembly capabilities by 2030, reflecting an expansion of its ecosystem from component manufacturing to more advanced stages of aircraft production, as stated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Belatiq highlighted the global demand as a significant opportunity for Morocco, particularly with plans from companies like Airbus to increase aircraft production in the coming years.
He noted that the myriad components involved in aircraft manufacturing present Moroccan manufacturers with a chance to broaden their participation in production chains, provided they continue to develop their skills and maintain high-quality standards. The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade also recognized that global transformations in the sector, especially companies' shifts towards diversifying supply chains and production sources, offer Morocco the opportunity to strengthen its position within these chains, rather than solely attracting new investments.
According to GIMAS, the sector is expected to add around 10,000 new jobs, raising the total employment in the aviation industry to about 35,000 by 2030. The specialized institute for training aviation industry technicians affiliated with GIMAS aims to graduate between 500 and 700 individuals annually. Currently, around 75% of the sector's companies are concentrated in the Casablanca-Settat region, with challenges lying not just in attracting investments, but also in providing the necessary land and industrial spaces as most companies in the sector continue to expand.
As reported by asharqbusiness.com.
