EU finances program to support Morocco's car-making industry

The Moroccan association of cars industry and trade (AMICA) has signed with Euro-Maroc enterprise center a convention to support exports of the car-making sub-contracting industry.

The accord, financed by the European Union, will enable Moroccan car industrialists to benefit from international expertise in the field and improve the competitiveness of car sub-contractors. It will also be an instrument to develop the Moroccan industry in the Euro-Mediterranean basin and attract to Morocco more partnership projects and more international re-locating projects.

This involves assisting some 20 Moroccan spare-part manufacturers in obtaining certification for ISO-TS 16949 international standard, helping with setting up a partnership operation in the margins of the Moroccan Motor Show (Tec Auto Maroc) in May, 2003, and promoting exports by Moroccan firms through panels featured in European Motor Shows.

Chief-ambassador of the European commission in Rabat, Sean Doyle, hailed Morocco's endeavors to upgrade its industrial competitiveness and said the Commission will be evaluating and deepening this process through a guarantee fund.

Moroccan minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, announced that a mission is currently conducted by French car-maker Renault to look into prospects of developing its sub-contracting activities in Morocco while a similar mission of Italian car-maker Fiat also voiced last week willingness to work with Morocco in this field.