Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, called on young Moroccans studying abroad to consider pursuing their careers at home to help build the «Morocco of tomorrow». Speaking Monday evening in Lausanne at an event organized by the Association of Moroccan Polytechnic Students of Lausanne (APML), which includes nearly 600 Moroccan students, Mezzour emphasized that the Kingdom has become one of Africa's most dynamic industrial hubs driven by innovation, sustainability, and economic sovereignty. He underscored the crucial role of youth in sustaining this momentum. Under the theme «The Morocco of Tomorrow: Between Ambition, Innovation, and Sovereignty», the minister described a country undergoing profound industrial transformation, positioning itself as a globally competitive solution. He stressed the importance of passion, personal commitment, and seizing opportunities when shaping one's professional path. Mezzour noted that Morocco's industrial model must go beyond «production value» to embrace «innovation value» and «brand value». To create sustainable wealth and attract talent, he said, Morocco must not limit itself to manufacturing but evolve into an innovative and sovereign industrial power. The minister cited the Safran aerospace complex launched last week in Nouaceur by King Mohammed VI, calling it a milestone project featuring two factories for aircraft engine assembly and maintenance and creating nearly 900 highly qualified jobs. In the automotive sector, Mezzour recalled that Morocco is now Africa's leading vehicle exporter, producing more than 600,000 units with a local integration rate of 65%. The next goal, he said, is to reach one million vehicles and accelerate the shift toward electric mobility. He added that Morocco is one of the few countries developing a full electric battery value chain, from raw material extraction to recycling. A gigafactory is currently under construction in Nador, and Morocco has already begun exporting battery precursors to South Korea, a sign of its growing position as an innovative, sovereign, and globally competitive industrial player.
