Morocco Aims to Rival Paris Air Show with Expanded "AéroExpo Marrakech"

At the world’s largest air show, held from June 17 to 23, 2019 in Paris-Le Bourget, the Honorary President of the Groupement des Industries marocaines aéronautiques et spatiales (GIMAS) set the tone for Morocco’s new ambitions in the sector. Indeed, "it has been decided, at the governmental level, to modify the organization of the "AéroExpo Marrakech", so that the Ministry of Industry and the Groupement des Industries marocaines aéronautiques et spatiales (GIMAS) take it over from now on, in partnership, of course, with the IEC. Work is underway to inaugurate the new format of this Show in 2020," says Hamid Benbrahim El-Andaloussi.

Moreover, Morocco is ensuring a remarkable participation in this global air show, with its stand covering 100 m2. Better, the strong Moroccan delegation testifies to the country’s interest in this event. Indeed, according to Challenges, several officials have made the trip. Among others, the magazine cites, in addition to the Ministry of Industry, GIMAS, the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), MidParc, the Special Agency "Tanger Méditerranée" (TMSA), Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and MedZ.

If, for Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Minister of Industry, "the objective here is no longer to make Morocco known, which has already become a real aeronautical base"; it will rather be to "define, with the investors, how we can support them, how we can create a place for them in this ecosystem". The government authority did not fail to be reassuring: "We are starting our conversations directly on how we can work together, what they will bring more to Morocco and vice versa?", she added.

It should be remembered that Morocco can boast of a significant potential that can allow it to attract more investors for greater development of the sector. Indeed, the same source points out, the Moroccan aeronautics sector now has nearly 140 companies. It directly employs nearly 16,700 skilled people. In 2018, the sector’s exports amounted to 13.9 billion dirhams, or 5.6% of the Kingdom’s total exports. The sector is also recording the strongest growth in manufacturing exports, with a rate of 13.8%, which bodes well for bright prospects...