European aeronautic defense and space company-Morocco aviation dedicates new facilities in Casablanca

The new facilities of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company-Maroc Aviation were dedicated Thursday at the Casablanca Mohammed V airport.

The facilities extending over 13,000 square meters and including industrial premises, avionics laboratories, and a hangar will expand the activities of Maroc-Aviation in the maintenance of C-130 crafts.

President Managing director of EADS-Maroc Aviation, Yves Richard, said the operation, part of transfer of technology between the north and the south, will be an "excellence center" open onto the African continent.

Moroccan minister of transport and merchant navy, Abdeslam Znined, described this industrial delocalization as "very important" and said it will consolidate Morocco's position as a relay in north-south and south-south cooperation.

The new facilities, financed part of a debt swapping by France, will create in a first stage more than 150 jobs for engineers and technicians. The development and training plan will create nearly 250 jobs up to 2003.

Maroc-aviation which is celebrating this year its 50th anniversary will relocate in the new premises its major activities, mainly planes equipment, manufacturing and assembling of aeronautical sets, seats, internal fixtures, cables and others.

Maroc-aviation is a branch of EADS SOGERMA (France) that runs the maintenance activity within the EADS company.

EADS is Europe's premier aerospace company. EADS comprises the activities of the founding partners Aerospatiale Matra S.A. (France), Construcciones Aeron?uticas S.A. (Spain) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Germany). In terms of market share EADS is one of the top manufacturers of commercial aircraft, helicopters, commercial space launchers and missiles. EADS is also a leading supplier of military aircraft, satellites and defense electronics.

In 2000, EADS generated pro forma sales of more than EUR 24.2 billion, of which 75 percent in civil activities and 25 percent in the military sector. The company employs 87,000 people at more than 90 sites in Germany, Great Britain, France and Spain.

The dedication ceremony was attended by advisor to the King Andre Azoulay, minister-delegate in charge of national defense administration, Abderrahmane Sbai, the company's senior executives, diplomats and other civil and military personalities.