by Friday Nwosu
Aircraft manufacturing giant, Boeing and the Moroccan government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of an industrial zone in the northern Moroccan port city of Tangiers.
The Boeing industrial ecosystem in Morocco will bring about 120 Boeing suppliers to the country, create 8,200 skilled jobs, and generate annual revenue from exports as high as $1 billion.
According to huffingtonpost.com, Boeing’s President, Raymond L. Conner, said that in signing the agreement, Morocco is establishing itself as a an important platform for the global aerospace supply chain, and tied the achievement to King Mohammed VI’s long-term vision for national and regional development. He said country’s the relationship with Boeing dates back 50 years.
“Through our joint venture in Casablanca, we have already seen with our own eyes the unique opportunities offered by Morocco to subcontractors of aviation to reduce costs while producing high quality aviation products.”
Boeing and the Kingdom have developed an incentive program to bring new Boeing suppliers to settle in Morocco, he added.
Boeing has had a presence in Morocco since at least 2001, when the company became a co-founder of Morocco Aero-Technical Interconnect Systems (MATIS) Aerospace, which produces parts and engines for Boeing jets and employs 850 people in Casablanca. Boeing is also the preferred manufacturer for Moroccan national airline Royal Air Maroc, which earlier this month launched thrice-weekly non-stop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport and Casablanca on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The new aerospace ecosystem will further cement Boeing’s presence in Morocco by bringing suppliers to the country, building factories, and streamlining the manufacturing platform. Boeing has also agreed to train the local workforce to meet demands for skilled labor.
