French aerospace group Safran has announced a major expansion into Morocco.
Agreements were signed on Monday to build an Airbus engine assembly line and a new maintenance and repair facility near Casablanca.
The move, unveiled during a signing ceremony chaired by King Mohammed VI, represents a €200 million ($231 million) investment.
This will make Morocco home to Safran’s only engine assembly line outside France, according to Reuters.
The facility is expected to produce about 350 LEAP-1A engines annually, accounting for 25% of Safran’s Airbus-related output, said Chairman Ross McInnes.
“This will be Safran’s only assembly line outside France and will be ready in 2028,” McInnes said.
Safran manufactures the LEAP family of engines in partnership with GE Aerospace through their CFM International venture.
The LEAP-1A powers the Airbus A320neo and competes with Pratt & Whitney, while the LEAP-1B is the exclusive engine for the Boeing 737 MAX, and the LEAP-1C powers China’s COMAC C919.
Safran’s CEO Olivier Andriès said Morocco was selected partly due to its “economic stability” and skilled labor force.
He highlighted the country’s growing role in global aerospace manufacturing, adding, “This expansion strengthens the resilience of our supply chain.”
Morocco already hosts several Safran facilities, Andriès noted. Currently, Safran’s main Airbus engine production is concentrated at its Villaroche plant near Paris, which builds up to 1,000 LEAP-1A engines annually across three assembly lines.
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The company will also invest €120 million in a maintenance and repair facility, expected to open in 2027 with an annual capacity of 150 engines.
Morocco’s Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour hailed the announcement, saying, “Safran’s new investments place Morocco among the few countries capable of producing complete aircraft engines.”
He added that the project is expected to attract additional suppliers to the region.
The expansion deepens Safran’s partnership with Morocco following last year’s visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, which helped revive bilateral ties.
Morocco’s aerospace sector employs about 25,000 people across 150 companies and exported 26 billion dirhams ($2.8 billion) in 2024, up from 21.8 billion dirhams the previous year.
Mezzour said Safran’s new plants will help double Morocco’s aerospace exports.
To attract investors, Morocco offers up to 30% in capital expenditure incentives and access to specialized industrial zones such as Midparc, where Safran’s new facilities will be located near Casablanca’s airports.
Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri added that 84% of Morocco’s aerospace operators are foreign investors.
He said the country plans to train 10,000 new aerospace professionals by 2030 through its seven dedicated training institutes.
Safran joins other global players like Boeing, which continues to expand operations in Morocco as part of the country’s growing role in the global aviation supply chain.
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Image Credit: Reuters
