Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, said that 41% of aircraft parts come from Morocco

El plan de Marruecos para la fabricación de piezas para satélites

photo_camera AFP/FADEL SENNA - An employee works in an aircraft factory in Nouaceur, south of Casablanca

The Alawi kingdom is in a very prosperous moment at an economic and industrial level, it is the fifth economy in Africa. One of the most relevant aspects is its leading position in receiving direct investments from foreign partners such as the United States and European nations, without forgetting national investments. In the new year, they want to pursue several objectives and one of them is to specialise in the manufacture of satellite parts, according to Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade. Minister Ryad Mezzour has been in office for several months, since October 2021, but he has a wealth of experience in Moroccan industry, particularly in aeronautics. Indeed, the aviation sector is constantly growing, so they want to start immersing themselves in the manufacture of parts for satellites, by attracting new investors to confirm their leadership in the aviation industry. 

A remarkable element is the power of Morocco in the manufacture of aircraft parts, according to Airbus, all aircraft in the world contain parts manufactured by the North African country. This argument was backed up by Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, who revealed that 41% of aircraft parts are of Moroccan origin. Airbus is the world's leading aeronautical company, and in recent years has established itself as one of the great giants in the aeronautical industry, dedicated to aeronautical and space construction and machinery. Currently, Airbus is in the middle of a project, belonging to the Horizon 2020 Programme, for the assembly and manufacture of satellites in orbit in space. This manufacturing will pioneer the construction of components such as satellite payload replacement parts, antenna reflectors and spacecraft component assembly.

A pesar del entorno altamente competitivo, la industria de la aviación está en auge en Marruecos

The manufacture of satellite parts is being carried out in Nouaceur, located in the Casablanca-Settat region, close to the US group Honeywell, which specialises in the manufacture of aeronautical equipment. Morocco has been at the forefront of the aeronautical sector for years, and is one of the main aerospace cities. In less than 20 years, the Alawi kingdom has become the aerospace centre of North Africa, which has led to numerous foreign companies setting up in the area. For several years now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has aimed to establish the aeronautical sector as a priority within the new Industrial Acceleration Plan 2021-2025.

El grupo estadounidense Honeywell

Earlier this year, satellite images taken via Google Earth showed the construction of a new air defence base completed in August 2020 in Sidi Yahya el-Gharb, northwest of the country's capital. The base covers approximately 40 hectares and integrates strategic area zones, defence systems and air defence. This new construction is a further demonstration of the consolidation of Moroccan power in the aeronautical sector. The effects of the COVID-19 health crisis have not affected the sector, but rather strengthened it. "Every commercial aircraft that flies in the skies of our planet carries at least one part machined in Morocco. This is an essential element of which we can be proud," said Moulay Hafid Elalamy. 

By manufacturing the satellites, Morocco will reaffirm its leading position in the aeronautical sector. The country is proving to be a major player in the sector, where competition is fierce.

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