Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace, has announced plans to open an assembly plant in an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Casablanca, Morocco, pending Moroccan Government approval.
Located near Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport, the Nouaceur MidParc EPZ offers investors a 5 year tax-free honeymoon period, after which the rate rises to 8.75% for the next 20 years.
intention of investing approximately USD$200 million in equipment, buildings and start-up costs over the next eight years though it has only now decided on an actual site.
A nearly-completed Q400 in Montreal (Steelhead) Scheduled to be implemented in phases starting in 2012, Bombardier Aerospace’s new Moroccan facility will initially include sub-assembly capabilities for simple structures. The new facility is scheduled to start manufacturing in 2013. Details on the type of components to be manufactured will be finalized in the coming months.By the end of 2020, employment at the Morocco facility is expected to reach 850 skilled and trained workers. Bombardier Aerospace anticipates that there will be no impact on its current workforce level at other sites as a result of this announcement.
Morocco's economy has seen a minor boom in recent years thanks to free trade deals with international partners, amongst whom there is French car manufacturer Renault who, in February, opened a massive USD$1.5billion plant in a similar EPZ in Tangiers.