Morocco's aeronautics industry is considered a key strategy of development, as outlined in the national industrial plan, dubbed "Emergence", Director General of Morocco Exports (Moroccan center of exports promotion), Saad Benabdellah told MAP.

Benabdellah, who stressed the advantages of Morocco in terms of investment in the aeronautics sector, recalled that the country has so far attracted more that 70 aeronautics'  companies, located mostly in the Casablanca-Rabat axe and in the free zone of Tangiers.

Morocco, which succeeded to develop within a few years a significant aeronautical background of first rank, figures currently among the countries where aeronautical subcontracting has the most promising future prospects.

By 2015, aeronautic industry in Morocco should create 17.000 employments and an additional sales turnover of about 800 million euros.

The first Aeroexpo Marrakech, held on 2008 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, under the aegis of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and New Technologies, with the effective support of the Royal Air Forces, the National Office of Airports, the Royal Air Maroc, the Group of Moroccan Aerospace industrials (GIMAS) and inaugurated by H.E. the Prime Minister, was undoubtedly a great success and earned its mantle as the key aeronautic event in the year with world-wide news coverage !

The wide spectrum of business achieved during this first edition highlights the significant growth of the Moroccan aeronautic industry in recent years and the choice of this country to host this event.

The aeronautic industry in Morocco is a promising asset for the Moroccan economy. Its identification as such led to the creation of an industrial area “Nouasseur Aero pole” which currently lodges 15 companies operating in different aeronautic activities. This Aero pole will have to gear down the outputs of this activity in terms of added value and generation of new jobs.

Having a high potential for the aeronautic industry and the adequate environment to host a larger number of aeronautics companies , Morocco represents an ideal market for the aviation industry, especially sub-contracting which has highly developed within the last few years.

Aeroexpo Marrakech is Morocco's showcase meeting for civil & military aviation, technology and services that will attract exhibitors, delegations & trade visitors from around the world, and will be focusing on creating opportunities for the attendees to interact and meet new buyers & partners.

Websit: AeroExpo-Morocco

"A strong presence in national engineering through this great project shows that Morocco has taken another step in the field of aeronautics, which will not stop simply at construction, but will also include engineering and design."
In the past few years, the sector has seen considerable development, growing from near-zero in 2000 to a 250 million dollar industry employing 7,000 people. Seven major areas employ about 75% of those currently working in the sector: cabling, middle management, composites, mechatronics, sheet metals, fitting and machining.

"The rapid development in the sector has been carried forward by benchmark operators in the sector, such as EADS, Boeing and SAFRAN, who have given Morocco credibility as a destination," said Chami.
A number of companies in Morocco are suppliers to European and American-based companies placing orders. Morocco is among those countries where subcontracting has a promising future.

The aeronautical sector is characterised by a strong French presence.
The chairman of the French Union of Metallurgical Trades and Industries, Frédéric Saint-Geoure, said that Morocco's economic and industrial development strategy to support high added-value industrial sectors, such as aeronautics, can only encourage French companies to open other nearby markets.
"The strength of the Moroccan aeronautical sector lies in that it has developed as a network where customers and suppliers are right next door to each other," said Thomas Corbel, manufacturer of aircraft engine components for the Airbus A320 and A340. "With geographical proximity restricting logistical costs, aeronautics subcontractors in Morocco have what they need to deal with the downward pressure on costs."

Chairman of the Moroccan Space and Aeronautical Industries Group (GIMAS) Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi is delighted with the development of the sector, feeling that it could not be more competitive. "Morocco has very quickly realised the potential of the fledgling industry that is aeronautics, identifying it as a top-priority strategic sector in its Emergence plan. Training is one of the keys to success in our development strategy for this sector."

Great groups, inter alia, the Franco-German EADS and American Lockheed Martin are already established in Morocco, mainly in Casablanca and Rabat.

According to the statement, the advantages of setting up shop in Morocco are "multiple" --there are qualified labour, which costs 70 per cent less than in Europe, the geographical proximity with Europe and tax exemption for the campanies which invest in this sector.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $233.6 million to begin production of 24 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and other support elements for Morocco. This effort will support the Foreign Military Sales program for Morocco.

"We are pleased the Royal Moroccan Air Force selected the F-16 to modernize its fighter force and look forward to working with them as the newest member of the F-16 family," said John Larson, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' F-16 program. "The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

The F-16 provides advanced technology and capability across all missions, and its operations and maintenance costs for the life of the aircraft are the best value available today. Operating day and night in all environments and weather, the F-16 remains the safest multirole fighter in U.S. Air Force history. The F-16 will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force for many years to come, assuring proven support and sustainment throughout the life of Morocco's F-16 program.

The Moroccan announcement adds to the F-16's reputation as the world's most sought-after multi-role fighter. More than 4,400 F-16 aircraft have been delivered to date and production is expected to continue beyond 2012, with major upgrades being incorporated for all F-16 versions.

More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries. The F-16 program has been characterized by unprecedented international cooperation among governments, air forces and aerospace industries. Major upgrades to all F-16 versions are being incorporated to keep the fleet modern and fully supportable over the aircraft's long service life.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

The United States government awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] an Undefinitized Contract Authorization (UCA) for the production of 24 Advanced F-16 Block 52 aircraft for Morocco, making the Kingdom of Morocco the 25th nation to select the F-16.

Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). The sale will include the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package provided by Lockheed Martin and other U.S. and international contractors. The new aircraft will supplement the RMAF's existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the RMAF.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $233.6 million to begin production of 24 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and other support elements for Morocco. This effort will support the Foreign Military Sales program for Morocco.

"We are pleased the Royal Moroccan Air Force selected the F-16 to modernize its fighter force and look forward to working with them as the newest member of the F-16 family," said John Larson, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' F-16 program. "The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

"The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

Lockheed Martin will have a backlog of about 125 F-16s to produce at its Fort Worth plant. Productions have notably reduced as the backlog has decreased. Company officials expect 30 jets to produced this year and with the existing backlog keeping the production line going till 2011.

Hurel-Hispano is a European leader in the conception and fabrication of nacelles, and an important subsidiary of the SNECMA group for composites.

Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, who presided over the signing ceremony of the agreement, voiced the government's interest in the field of aeronautic industry, highlighting the North African kingdom's geographical asset, mainly geographic proximity with Europe.

Hurel-Hispano CEO, Jean-Claude Lepage, affirmed that carrying out this project in Morocco, which comes in line with the firm's development strategy, crowns the "satisfactory results" achieved in previous experiences.

Financing was provided by the Hassan II Fund, within the scope of new measures to support maintenance service companies, and the industrial pollution clean-up fund, covering effluent treatment installations, to meet the most stringent international environmental standards. “The construction of this new facility marks a major step forward in SMES’s capabilities,” said Mohamed Benchekroun, Chairman of Snecma Morocco Engine Services. “SMES further consolidates its position as a leading regional aeronautical repair center.” Antoine Vosluisant, General Manager of SMES, added: “The development of our technological expertise, coupled with our high level of competitiveness, will enable us to expand our service offering and increase our market share.

” The ceremony was attended by a mumber of local authorities and public administrations representatives and by Mister Frédéric Grasset, French ambassador to Morocco - Mohamed Barrada, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc - Dominique Paris, Senior Vice President of Snecma - Jean-Lin Fournereaux, Chairman and CEO of Snecma Services and Mohamed Benchekroun, Chairman of Snecma Morocco Engine Services. At the end of the inauguration ceremony, Antoine Vosluisant received the ISO 9001:2000 certificate for SMES from the representative of certification body Bureau Veritas. In 1999, Snecma Services (51%) and Royal Air Maroc (49%) created the joint subsidiary Snecma Morocco Engine Services.

SMES provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the CFM56-3, CFM56-7 and PW2037 engines, as well as for the auxiliary power units (APU) on the Boeing 737 and 757 jetliners deployed by Royal Air Maroc. The company operates 8,000 square meters of repair facilities and has 90 employees.