European aircraft manufacturer Airbus aims to strengthen its presence in Morocco, a country whose aviation sector offers «plenty of opportunities», said Wouter Van Wersch, the company's executive vice president international, on Tuesday. His comments came after meeting with officials from the Moroccan delegation attending the 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, held from June 16 to 22 near Paris. Describing the talks with the Moroccan delegation as «excellent», Van Wersch highlighted a mutual desire to deepen Airbus's collaboration and footprint in Morocco. The European manufacturer currently employs nearly 2,000 people in the country, following its recent acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems' plant in Casablanca. The Moroccan delegation hosted at the Airbus stand included Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh; Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour; Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence, and Public Policy Evaluation Karim Zidane; and Ali Seddiki, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). Minister Mezzour underscored the strategic agreements between Morocco and Airbus, one of the world's aerospace leaders. «Airbus has just acquired the Spirit plant, which produces aircraft fuselages, especially for the A220, at the Nouaceur site», he said, emphasizing ongoing efforts to establish «a final aircraft assembly line in Morocco». Karim Zidane noted the timing of the meeting was ideal, as Morocco prepares to host several major events. He also recalled that Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is expanding its fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft by 2037. For this «significant market», attracting global leaders' attention, the Moroccan government is committed to fostering a «win-win partnership». Ali Seddiki highlighted Morocco's competitive advantages. During the Paris Air Show, AMDIE partnered with the Moroccan Aerospace and Space Industries Group (GIMAS) to present a Moroccan pavilion featuring six companies, showcasing the expertise and dynamism of the country's aerospace sector. Over the past 20 years, Morocco has developed a diverse aerospace industry, attracting major players such as Boeing, Airbus, Safran, Hexcel, Eaton, Alcoa, Le Piston Français, Daher, Collins Aerospace, and Pratt & Whitney.
