The Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy Mr. Moulay Hafid Elalamy, and Mr. Mamoune Bouhdoud, Minister delegate in charge of small businesses and the integration of the informal sector have launched, on Tuesday 28 July 2015 in Rabat, the first four aeronautics ecosystems in the Assembly, Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS), Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Engineering.

To support the development of these ecosystems, two performance contracts were signed on this occasion by Mr Elalamy, Mr. Mohammed Boussaid, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Mr Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, President of the Moroccan Aerospace Industries Association (GIMAS).

These first four ecosystems will contribute by 2020 to create 23,000 new jobs, that is to say three folds the present workforce, to double the turnover to export, and achieve a 35% local integration and attract 100 new actors. The industrial sector undertakes to achieve the sector’s targets for the set by the 2014-2020 Industrial Acceleration Plan, in accordance with the performance contracts.

Recalling the many benefits that will profit the aerospace industry through the new ecosystem approach, Mr. Elalamy said that the 4 currently launched ecosystems will raise the sector to more sustained levels of development hence starting a new phase with the emergence of new high value and high technological content businesses.

Mr. Minister also welcomed the mobilization and constant commitment of GIMAS alongside the Ministry in the upstream work to identify sectors to be structured in ecosystems. The choice was made taking into account the potential that they present in terms of creation of industrial jobs and added value.

Indeed, the global aviation industry releases a significant potential for growth (doubling the world fleet over the next 20 years, full order books for the next 10 years and a turnover of 4.8 trillion dollars for the same period): With the launch of aeronautical ecosystems, Morocco is perfectly entitled to seize this opportunity by positioning itself more as competitiveness niche in the aviation value chain.

A for the support intended for the companies of structured courses, it mainly aims at:

- the promotion of investment in the sector (installation offers);
- easier access to property (development of rental property at attractive prices);
- the training of specialized profiles that meet the needs of the sector;
- the development of local integration by means of bonuses;
- improving logistical competitiveness of the sector;
- the establishment of appropriate financing solutions.

This sustained support provided for ecosystems’ companies will make the sector a key driver of economic growth, attracting investments and creating jobs and exports.

In addition to the commitment to achieve the above objectives in terms of job creation, added value and exports, GIMAS must, in return for the aids received, strive to raise industrialists’ awareness on the benefits to be drawn from integrating the sector’s ecosystem, to support the development of an efficient and competitive aerospace Supply Chain and support 20 project leaders and SME’s over the period 2015-2020 through, namely, major contractors' commitment to sourcing from these SME’s.

About the aeronautics sector

During the last decade, the Moroccan aeronautics sector has shown an outstanding dynamism and remarkable growth. High added value businesses have developed with the emergence of true centres for excellence covering diversified sectors such as in wiring, mechanics, sheet metal work, composites and mechanical assembly.

Words leaders such as EADS, BOEING, SAFRAN, CREUZET/INDRAERO, Le PISTON, DAHER, and more recently, BOMBARDIER, EATON, AEROLIA and ALCOA have chosen to establish in Morocco, thus confirming the competitiveness and the attractiveness of the destination.

The number of establishments has in fact significantly increased: the sum of companies operating in the sector has reached 100 in only 12 years’ time. They employ more than 11,000 young people and achieved nearly a billion dollars of sales in 2014, that is to say 4.5% of the Kingdom’s exports against 1% 10 years ago.

Moreover, the segment generates worldwide a significant growth potential (4.8 trillion USD of turnover on the next ten years with a full order book) that Morocco will conveniently take advantage of given its position on the aeronautical chart World.

Morocco’s position will be even more distinctive in the future with the launch of aeronautical ecosystems that will ensure better integration of the sector and will improve its performance and attractiveness to foreign investors and purchasers.