Paris: In an interview with MAP-Paris amidst the Throne Day celebrations, Safran’s Board Chairman, McInnes, praised Morocco’s remarkable progress and sustained development momentum, crediting it to ‘a clear and ambitious strategy’ spearheaded by the nation’s Sovereign.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, McInnes highlighted Morocco’s distinctive advantage in its workforce quality, bolstered by initiatives like the Industrial Acceleration Plan and vocational training programs. This strategic approach has led to more than a quarter-century of a robust and ambitious partnership with Morocco, enhancing its positioning in Africa through win-win partnerships and economic diversification. This Vision has enabled Morocco to become a strategic partner for international companies, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
Currently, Safran employs over 5,000 individuals across more than eight sites in Morocco, with plans to continue expanding, as the Kingdom holds significant importance for the company outside France. McInnes noted that Safran is constructing a new maintenance and repair facility for its new-generation LEAP aircraft engines. He emphasized Morocco’s abundant renewable energy resources, available at competitive prices, as a pivotal factor for success in this sector.
Safran plans to strengthen its collaboration with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) in aircraft engine maintenance, with another maintenance and repair center being built in Casablanca, leveraging RAM’s hub positioning and the skilled workforce. As co-chair of the France-Morocco Business Leaders Club (MEDEF International-CGEM), McInnes will lead a French business delegation to Dakhla in October to explore opportunities in Morocco’s southern provinces.
French companies, including Safran, aim to develop a local supplier base in Morocco, reinforcing integration and creating quality jobs. McInnes stressed the importance of leveraging Franco-Moroccan cooperation in aerospace, green energy, digital infrastructure, and sustainable infrastructure development for the upcoming 2030 World Cup. He believes this will showcase Morocco as an African and Euro-Mediterranean hub, enhancing its international standing and attracting investors. Talent development, research, and innovation remain key to Morocco’s appeal.