King Mohammed VI presided over a ceremony today in Nouacer, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, to present and initiate the construction of the aircraft engine manufacturing complex belonging to the Safran Group. This significant project strengthens Morocco’s position as a global strategic hub for the aviation industry.
The complex, located within the integrated industrial platform dedicated to aerospace professions, “Medpark,” will include a factory for the assembly and testing of Safran aircraft engines, as well as a facility dedicated to maintenance and repair of the new generation LEAP engines.
These two reference factories, characterized by efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, go beyond mere industrial investment. They reinforce the exceptional partnership between Safran and Morocco and reflect the King’s strong commitment to elevating the aviation sector to the highest levels of technological competitiveness.
At the beginning of the event, a corporate video showcased the advancements in the aviation sector, one of Morocco’s global industries, made possible by bold reforms and structural initiatives launched by the King over recent years.
During the ceremony, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour addressed the King, stating that thanks to the King’s visionary leadership, Morocco has become an indispensable global destination in advanced sectors. He noted that in less than two decades, the kingdom has established a world-class aviation industry through successive and integrative ambitious strategies.
Mezzour explained that the sector’s export turnover has seen a remarkable increase, rising from less than one billion dirhams in 2004 to over 26 billion dirhams in 2024. The sector now encompasses more than 150 stakeholders, including leading global manufacturers, representing a true showcase for national industrial expertise.
Additionally, the minister highlighted that Safran, a historical partner of the kingdom for 25 years, reaffirms its confidence in Morocco by establishing an integrated facility for manufacturing, testing, and servicing world-class aircraft engines. This includes creating a maintenance and repair factory for aircraft engines, with a budget of 1.3 billion dirhams, expected to service 150 engines annually and provide 600 direct jobs by 2030.
He also mentioned the development of a factory for manufacturing and testing LEAP 1-A commercial aircraft engines, particularly used in Airbus A320 Neo models. This investment, valued at 2.1 billion dirhams, will have an assembly capacity of 350 engines per year and is projected to create 300 highly-skilled jobs by 2029.
Mezzour emphasized that the project, which will be the second site for LEAP-1A production globally, will solidify Morocco’s position within the global value chain of aircraft engine manufacturers and attract new manufacturers to the national system, stressing that the aviation industry is committed to creating permanent, skilled jobs for young people.
On his part, Safran Group CEO Ross McKinness remarked that the King’s presence at the ceremony is deeply significant for the company, demonstrating not only His Majesty’s interest in Morocco’s industrial development but also the ideal investment environment His Majesty has continuously fostered through a bold, enlightened, and forward-looking vision.
Highlighting the exceptional economic and industrial relations between France and Morocco, McKinness emphasized that the group “does not just produce in Morocco, but with Morocco,” referencing the strategic importance of the country for Safran.
He reaffirmed Safran’s commitment to maintaining its strong relationship with the kingdom, stating, “Together, we are committed to developing and accelerating Morocco’s aviation sector.”
Similarly, Safran Group General Manager Olivier Andriès explained that the decision to establish the new aircraft engine industrial complex in Morocco was not coincidental, stressing that the group “chose a country with skilled labor, modern infrastructure, and a stable macroeconomic framework.”
He continued, “Most importantly, we were guided by the trust derived from the momentum led by Your Majesty to make the kingdom a competitive industrial platform on the global stage.”
Andriès added that today’s projects and ongoing expansions at three other sites total investments exceeding 350 million euros, which will create thousands of jobs within Morocco’s aviation industry.
Following this, King Mohammed VI presided over the signing of three agreements, the first being a memorandum of understanding detailing the commitments of both partners, the state and Safran, to establish a factory for assembling and testing aircraft engines.
This was signed by Ryad Mezzour, Karim Zidane, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Coordination, and Public Policy Evaluation, and Olivier Andriès.
The second agreement is a memorandum concerning the supply of renewable energy to Safran’s facilities, signed by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Ryad Mezzour, Mohammed Ouhmad, Secretary General for Energy Transition, along with various regional officials.
The third document outlines the establishment of the Safran aircraft engine assembly and testing factory in Medpark, signed by Khalid Safir, Director General of the Deposit and Management Fund, and other executives from Safran and Medpark.
Afterward, the King was presented with the LEAP-1A aircraft engine, representing the latest innovations in terms of materials and manufacturing processes.
The ceremony also featured a commemorative photo opportunity with a group of young trainees from the Nouacer Aviation Institute, who will enter the future aircraft engine maintenance facility, before the King oversaw the commencement of construction for the aircraft engine complex belonging to the Safran Group.
As a global leader in manufacturing engines for short- and medium-haul aircraft, and the third major player globally in aviation outside of aircraft manufacturers, the Safran Group reinforces its presence in Morocco, having established operations there for 25 years, reflecting the qualitative progress of Morocco’s aerospace industries under the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI.
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