Thomson to invest $12.3 million in Morocco

French Thomson Microelectronics, a branch of the group Thomson CSF, announced plans to create its own back-end unit in Casablanca for an investment of $12.3 million.

The plant will produce annually 20 million units destined exclusively for export, generate 250 jobs and post a forecast turnover of $5.1 million

The decision was announced during a meeting held on Tuesday in Rabat between Moroccan Economy and Finance Minister Fathallah Oualalou and a delegation of executives from the company, led by its chief executive officer, Charles Maerfeld, Map reported.

Thomson Microsonics specializes in developing, making and marketing micro-electronic devices for wireless communications, heavy-duty applications and use in mobile phones, the military and space as well as medical acoustic transducers.

With a turnover of 350 million French Francs posted in 1997 and a growth rate of 61 percent in comparison with 1996, the company exports 92 percent of its output and employs 310 persons.

Presently, Thomson Microsonics subcontracts most of its back end production (assembling and testing) in the Philippines and Morocco.