Morocco and Ireland explore opportunities to strengthen aviation and aerospace ties

Relations between Morocco and Ireland continue to strengthen, particularly through commercial investment.

Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Moroccan government and Leo Varadkar, Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, met at the “Morocco Now” pavilion of the air show in Farnborough, UK, which ran until July 22.

The objective of this meeting was to strengthen collaboration between the aeronautical and aerospace industries of the two countries.

The Farnborough Airshow is the main global event this year. It is expected to attract 80,000 visitors and hosts around 1,000 exhibitors who promote their products and services to global industry players.

The Moroccan aviation and aerospace sector is emerging as a major competitor in the market. It presents huge opportunities for Irish businesses. It has doubled in the last decade, with a growth rate of 17% per year and an export turnover of one billion euros.

It now employs more than 11,000 people, with around 200 companies dedicated exclusively to the manufacture of auxiliary and spare parts.

Last year, the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development and Interprise Ireland held a series of week-long webinars on “Doing Business in Morocco” to share knowledge.

In the coming months, a market research visit is expected to be organized by Enterprise Ireland to Morocco to continue to build relationships and engage with key public and private sector players in the ecosystem. During their meeting, the two ministers discussed the continuation of their collaboration, particularly in the aerospace supply chain and the role of companies at the forefront of innovation in this sector.

Collaboration between the Moroccan and Irish aerospace industries can generate economic opportunities. Ireland is a recognized pioneer in aerospace and aviation globally, with an unrivaled track record of aviation-related advancements over the past 100 years.

As a country with a reputation for being at the forefront of innovation in this sector, aerospace and aviation represent a significant part of the Irish economy, worth 4.1 billion euros (4 .12 billion US dollars).

With over 250 aviation and aerospace companies in Ireland, providing 42,000 jobs, the industry is a major player in the global market. Ireland also has exceptional experience with its manufacturing potential, with the Emerald Aero Group (EAG), a group of Irish companies now working together to supply companies in the global aerospace market.