The automotive sector confirms the hopes placed in it to try to lead growth towards good results, commented business circles after the announcement made by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and New Technologies of the signing of 8 contracts with a view to the installation or expansion of equipment manufacturers in Kénitra.

From a source close to the ministry, it is specified that these "investment contracts", the signing of which took place on Wednesday in Rabat, have received the approval of the joint commission of the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development. Because most of these projects are located in the Gharb-Chrarda region, commentators have suggested that the fact that the council of the chief town is dominated by elected officials of the PJD, the political party to which Abdelkader Aâmara, the supervising minister, belongs, is not unrelated to it.

All the creations and extensions that are the subject of the contracts, the signing ceremony of which was chaired by the minister, should commit a total investment envelope of around 600 million dirhams and create some 5,700 direct jobs. The 1st project, which concerns automotive wiring and which is financed by American capital - 202 million dirhams - should create 900 jobs. The ministry notes that through this new investment "the American group Delphi increases the number of its sites in Morocco to 3 for a total investment amount of 1.1 billion DH generating 7,300 jobs".

Wiring also for the Japanese Fujikura Automotive Morocco Kénitra which is investing 158 MDH for employment forecasts of around 3,000 positions. The ministry indicates that in doing so, "the Japanese group consolidates its presence in Morocco with two sites for a total investment amount of 227 MDH generating 3,700 jobs".

Increase also in the number of sites, but to 6, for the American Lear Automotive Morocco which, with an additional investment of 24.4 MDH and 1,100 new jobs, reaches totals of 574.4 MDH and 5,200 jobs. The branches of the equipment industries that are air conditioning, lighting and textiles are not left out. Together, these three segments of the automotive industry installed in Kenitra total a global investment of 181 million dirhams for employment forecasts of more than 610 new positions.

The two units operating in the electrical insulation branch will require for their part a total commitment of 35 million dirhams, which should create some 75 new jobs. Moreover, behind the scenes of the ceremony, it is highlighted that three of the signed contracts concern the creation of new industrial units. It is specified that two of these new units are Spanish and the other French. It is thus suggested that the attractiveness of Morocco continues to act, "even when the issuing countries are in a situation of proven economic and financial crisis".