French aerospace giant Safran has signed landmark agreements with Morocco to establish an engine assembly line and a maintenance hub near Casablanca.
The deals mark a major step in Morocco’s ambition to become a global aerospace hub, echoing its earlier success in car manufacturing. Officials hope the new investments will strengthen local supply chains and foster advanced technical expertise.
Safran will invest €120 million in the new assembly line, which is expected to supply about a quarter of the company’s Airbus-related production. The facility will assemble 350 LEAP-1A engines annually, according to Safran Chair Ross McInnes.
“This will be Safran’s only assembly line outside France and will be ready in 2028,” McInnes said after a signing ceremony presided over by King Mohammed VI.
The project underscores Morocco’s growing importance in global aerospace manufacturing, drawing major industry players to its industrial zones near Casablanca.
Safran produces the LEAP family of engines in partnership with GE Aerospace through their CFM International venture. The LEAP-1A powers Airbus A320neo jets and competes with Pratt & Whitney engines, while the LEAP-1B exclusively powers Boeing’s 737 MAX. A third variant, the LEAP-1C, serves China’s COMAC C919.
With these agreements, Morocco deepens its ties with one of Europe’s most prominent aerospace manufacturers, solidifying its role as a bridge between Africa and Europe in high-tech industry.