Over the past two decades, Morocco’s aeronautics industry has risen from an emerging sector to a reference point in Africa and the world. In this exclusive interview, Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, the president of Midparc and a key figure in the sector, reflects on the foundational steps, challenges that are overcome, and promising prospects of an industry blending competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability.
You have been a major player in the emergence and development of Morocco’s aeronautics industry. Can you trace the major milestones of this evolution since the early 2000s?
Indeed, Morocco’s aeronautics sector began to emerge with the ascent of our current king to the throne. This emergence was bolstered by the operational excellence of Royal Air Maroc (RAM), historically recognized for its technical and pilot expertise. This instilled trust among major aeronautics players such as Boeing and Snecma, now Safran.
The journey started in the early 2000s with a factory specializing in electrical systems and an engine maintenance center. The latter was established in partnership with Snecma (Safran), while the former involved Snecma, Boeing, and Royal Air Maroc. This marked the beginning of Morocco’s aeronautics adventure, which has since attracted key actors from the U.S., Canada, and France.
Over time, Morocco has developed ecosystems and transitioned from producing basic electrical systems to high-value segments such as aircraft engines. Recent developments include facilities for manufacturing engine parts, the pinnacle of aeronautics activity and key to the future transformation of the industry.
Today, 25 years later, Morocco is the most competitive and high-quality aeronautics base at Europe’s doorstep and the leading one in Africa.
What were the main challenges in establishing this industrial ecosystem, and how were they overcome?
Two transformative measures have been pivotal in addressing international industrial needs. Aeronautics companies require greater competitiveness in this highly globalized and competitive industry.
First, the establishment of the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA) addressed talent needs. In Western countries, there is significant pressure on skilled labor, but IMA provides tailored training to meet industry demands.
Second, the creation of MIDPARC, a business model developed with the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion, facilitates rapid industrial setup with optimized costs, quality, and timing. Smaller companies can lease ready-built facilities, while larger firms can acquire land and receive support in constructing their sites.
This strategy ensures that industrial players can operate immediately, with MIDPARC even providing temporary workshops as permanent facilities are built—typically within 10 months.
From four aeronautics companies to 150 in less than 25 years, how has Morocco achieved such exponential growth?
In 25 years, Morocco has seen remarkable quantitative growth in the number of established companies, attracting major players like Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Safran, Thales, and Hexcel.
Moreover, there has been a qualitative evolution in skills and local value addition. Subsidiaries initially focused on cost efficiency by leveraging low labor costs but have since grown in sophistication, with local value addition exceeding 40%.
Another standout feature is gender inclusion: over 40% of the workforce in Morocco’s aeronautics sector are women, a record aligned with the country’s 2030 development goals.
How have government policies, such as the Industrial Acceleration Plan, impacted the sector’s development?
The Moroccan government has consistently supported the sector through strategic measures. The establishment of IMA is a prime example. Unlike traditional vocational training systems, IMA is managed by industry stakeholders and state-funded, offering world-class training standards.
Additionally, partnerships with institutions like MIDPARC have been instrumental. While government incentives provide initial support, Morocco’s true strength lies in the quality of its workforce—young, skilled, and dedicated professionals driving the sector’s growth.
With exports reaching 23 billion dirhams in 2023, tripling in ten years, what are Morocco’s ambitions for the coming years in aeronautics?
With 150 companies across ecosystems like engines and composites, Morocco has become a crucial base for the European market. The future looks even brighter, with accelerated company setups anticipated in the coming years.
By 2030, the country aims to exceed 4.5 billion dollars in exports, with over 40% local integration and 40,000 highly qualified jobs. Morocco is also positioning itself at the forefront of technological transitions, particularly in decarbonized propulsion systems, aiming for zero emissions by 2050.
Which value chain segments does Morocco seek to develop further in order to enhance local value addition?
Globally, the aeronautics market is projected at 8 trillion dollars over the next 20 years, split between aircraft manufacturing and services. While Morocco excels in manufacturing, it is underperforming in services such as aircraft maintenance, repairs, and modifications.
Recent agreements, like the one with Safran to establish an engine maintenance center at MIDPARC, signal efforts to bridge this gap.
How do Midparc and IMA meet the demand for skilled labor?
IMA offers innovative, tailor-made training, combining theoretical learning with hands-on experience at industrial sites. This symbiotic relationship ensures continuous skill upgrades aligned with evolving industry needs, fostering workforce loyalty and sectoral growth.
Is it essential for Morocco to attract its expatriate talents back home?
The debate is ongoing. While talent mobility is inevitable in a globalized world, Morocco must focus on training sufficient professionals for both domestic and international markets. Establishing mechanisms to recover training costs from international employers who recruit Moroccan talent could be a viable solution.
How is Morocco’s aeronautics sector addressing environmental challenges and technological innovations?
The sector is committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. Initiatives include increasing the use of solar energy and transitioning MIDPARC to fully decarbonized energy by late 2025 or early 2026.
What is the significance of the agreements signed at the 2024 Marrakech Air Show?
The 2024 edition marked Morocco’s entry into the global aerospace elite. Agreements with Safran (engine maintenance), Boeing (engineering collaboration), and Embraer (ecosystem development) highlight the sector’s transition to its next phase, focusing on high-value ecosystems like composites and engines while exploring new domains like defense.
Could this new industrial era attract other investments in this field, such as defense?
It is undeniable that, when success is achieved in the aerospace industry, it can attract other industries with a similar or even lower technological level. And unquestionably, today, we are initiating an industry in the defense sector.
We are now in a world where defense budgets are skyrocketing. There is significant pressure on industrial companies in this field.
In some parts of the world, order books are overflowing, and costs are high. Undeniably, our country, which is currently equipping itself in the field of defense, is entering into industrial offset agreements with several foreign manufacturers. These agreements require them to set up part of their operations in Morocco. Gradually, it is becoming clear to these manufacturers that Morocco can not only serve as a subcontracting base to meet their obligations to the state under these agreements but also act as a production base for them. This is especially true as they are overwhelmed with orders, face high costs, and often suffer from staff shortages or a lack of talent.
