Safran, the renowned French aeronautic company, and Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), have solidified their partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation and collaboration in aircraft engine maintenance. The agreement, signed on Thursday, brings together Royal Air Maroc CEO Hamid Addou and President of Safran Aircraft Engines, Jean-Paul Alary.
The primary objective of this partnership is to bolster the growth of the existing Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco (SAESM) site, including a significant expansion spanning an additional 2,000 square meters, representing a MAD 30 million ($2.94 million) investment. This expansion initiative is geared towards facilitating an increase in maintenance operations from the current 70 to an impressive 700 “shop visits” annually by the year 2026, alongside the creation of 100 new jobs.
Emphasizing the significance of this collaboration, Royal Air Maroc CEO, Hamid Addou, described it as a pivotal moment marking the commencement of a new phase in the partnership between RAM and Safran. Addou expressed pride in the collaboration, underlining its role in advancing Morocco’s aviation sector and elevating the country’s standing within the global aerospace industry.
Jean-Paul Alary echoed this sentiment, expressing Safran’s enthusiasm in strengthening ties with RAM and leveraging the pool of high-level skills available in Morocco. Alary highlighted the remarkable progress of SAESM over its 25-year journey, positioning it as a benchmark within Safran’s global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) network in terms of operational excellence, innovation, and environmental sustainability.
This development builds upon the December agreement between the Moroccan government and Safran, aimed at fostering collaboration and nurturing the aerospace industrial ecosystem in the country. The agreement underscores efforts to cultivate a robust local supply chain by identifying and supporting the production capabilities of Safran’s suppliers and service providers in Morocco. Additionally, it aims to bolster research and technology activities while enhancing local skills and competencies through targeted training initiatives and strategic partnerships with engineering schools and universities.
Numerous reports have underscored the pivotal role of the aviation and aerospace sector in Morocco, with Forbes magazine recognizing the country as Africa’s gateway to an aviation renaissance. Forbes highlighted Morocco’s remarkable aviation growth trajectory, emphasizing its strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, and its ongoing efforts to foster innovation and development in the industry.
