1. Morocco's aviation industry spreads its wings
Story highlights
Morocco's aeronautics sector benefits from the country's location, political stability and competitive
workforce
The industry is growing fast and factories are expanding to support that growth
Morocco needs though to overcome training challenges and create more added-value to succeed in
the sector
This is especially true for the aeronautics sub-contracting market. However, the country has still a
long way to go to be among the top performers in this sector.
The Moroccan aeronautics sector is enjoying an annual growth rate of 15% to 20% (with a slight
softening to 13.8% in 2013 according to the Moroccan Office des Changes). Today, over 100
companies in the aeronautical sector are based there, employing over 8,000 people in total.
This market is generating a turnover of around 800 million euros which represents 5% of Morocco's
total exports, and the industry is one of the top priority sectors in Morocco's Industrial "Emergence
plan." Factories are expanding and companies are recruiting to support their growth. According to
the Moroccan Space and Aeronautical Industries Group, the sector is likely to double in size by
2020.
2. Violaine Larmandieu
Nevertheless, in order to become a heavyweight player in the sub-contracting market, Morocco will
need to manufacture more complex components and improve its training programs to meet the
needs of global aircraft manufacturers.
Indeed, several countries are competing in the sub-contracting market such as Mexico, India or
Malaysia. Even though the Moroccan aerospace and defense sector was in the worldwide top 8
recipients of inward investment between 2001 and 2011, some of its competitor countries offer
lower-priced labor.
Consequently, Morocco has to counterbalance by producing more complex parts and by improving
the efficiency of its local supply chain (i.e. licensing local distributors).
To become a key player and to attract global manufacturers, a significant pool of high-skilled
personnel is required. The estimate is that 20,000 people will be needed by 2020 in this industry.
This applies mostly to machinists and technicians levels, since there are already enough Moroccan
engineers specialized in aeronautics.
The Institute of Aeronautics Professions and the ISMALA were hence established to quickly redirect
and complement Morocco's public sector educational system which was not taking aeronautics as a
priority.
3. Since then, more than 1,500 people have graduated from these institutes but aeronautics
manufacturers still have to train young machinists in-house for an average of two years before they
are completely up to speed.
Another influential factor for Morocco's aeronautics industry future is Bombardier's on-going
establishment in the country scheduled to open at the end of this year; first plant on the African
continent enabling the company to sell several of its aircrafts, well suited for the continent needs.
This location choice is not random, but largely due to Moroccan incentives and tax benefits (not
revealed but said to be close to $20 million).
This calculated move by the Moroccan authorities will have a big impact on the aeronautics industry
and provide multiple business opportunities in this sector, especially for sub-contractors.
The government also created a free zone for aeronautics companies close to Casablanca's airport.
The American company Alcoa Fastening Systems has already chosen to set up there and will benefit
from VAT and corporate tax exemption among other incentives.
In 2012, Morocco's aeronautics exports exceeded its imports for the first time. The country has
already achieved to attract several major global players but it seems that they are not yet planning
to produce entire airplanes in the country.
Morocco needs to overcome its training challenge and create more added-value to be able to
succeed in the aeronautics sector. If it does, Morocco will have put Africa on the map of the
aeronautics sector.
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http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/12/africa/morocco-aviation-industry-spreads-wings/
