French microelectronics firm to invest $400 million in Morocco

French SGS - Thomson Microelectronics NV (STM.PA) is to invest $400 million in Morocco during a five-year period aimed at expanding the company's industrial activity in the country.

Thomson, which has already a plant in Casablanca that makes microelectronics products for export, recently announced plans to create its own back-end unit in Morocco 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, Map reported.

Thomson Microsonics specializes in developing, making and marketing microelectronic devices for wireless communications, for heavy-duty applications and usage 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.