Industry. Morocco in the big leagues of electric mobility with the announcement of a strategic investment agreement from the Sino-European group Gotion High-Tech for the establishment of the first gigafactory in the Middle East & Africa region. The details.
Strategic shift for the electric mobility industry in the Kingdom. The head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, chaired, Thursday June 6 in Rabat, the signing ceremony of the strategic investment agreement between the Sino-European group Gotion High-Tech and the Moroccan state. This major strategic investment, which focuses on the creation of a complete industrial ecosystem for manufacturing electric batteries in Kenitra, is not only the first gigafactory to be built in Morocco, but also the first of its kind in the entire Middle East & Africa region. , thus consolidating the Kingdom’s position as regional leader in the automotive industry and energy transition, in line with the strategic and enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The agreement was signed by the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, the Minister of national territorial planning, town planning, housing and city policy, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of economic inclusion, small business, employment and skills, Younes Sekkouri , the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of investment, convergence and evaluation of public policies, Mohcine Jazouli, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the budget, Faouzi Lekjaa and the President of the Gotion High-Tech Group, Zhen LI, in the presence of the Director General of AMDIE , Ali Seddiki.
Volkswagen
For this first gigafactory, the Moroccan State has decided to trust the world-leading Sino-European player in the electric battery sector, one of whose key shareholders is the German Volkswagen group, to develop an integrated production project. of batteries for electric vehicles with a capacity of 20 GWh, for an amount of 12.8 billion dirhams and which will enable the creation of 17,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, including 2,300 with high qualifications. This investment corresponds to the first phase of development of the group’s industrial activities in Morocco, which ultimately plans to develop a capacity of 100 GWh for a total investment amount of 65 billion dirhams. Gotion High-Tech has made major investments in Europe, the United States and Asia with nearly 12 gigafactories launched over the last two years to meet significant global demand in the electric mobility sector.
The choice of the Kingdom for the establishment of its new gigafactory demonstrates its confidence in the Morocco destination, which has established itself as a privileged hub for investments, particularly in industrial ecosystems that create jobs and added value, under the enlightened conduct of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Thus, over the last twenty-five years, Morocco has become a reference hub in the complex automotive and aeronautics professions, allowing ever closer integration into international value chains. Today, with the enlightened vision of the Sovereign and its assets, Morocco is strengthening its positioning in high value-added professions such as electric mobility, in order to consolidate its achievements, support the transition of its automotive ecosystem towards electric and strengthen the creation of wealth for the benefit of its citizens. Note that the project was announced a few days ago at the end of the 5th National Investment Commission established by the new Investment Charter, operational since March 2023, in accordance with the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI . The National Investment Commission No. 5 approved 22 draft agreements and 5 amendments to agreements as part of the main mechanism established by the new Investment Charter. The 27 approved projects concern a total amount of nearly 7.7 billion dirhams, enabling the creation of nearly 7,000 jobs, including 5,300 direct and 1,700 indirect. Commission No. 5 also approved the investment agreement for the said strategic project in the electric mobility sector, in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, for an amount of 12.8 billion dirhams and allowing the creation 17,600 direct and indirect jobs.
Moroccan capital
Investments.
The amount of investment approved during the 5th National Investment Commission is increased to 89% by Moroccan companies. No less than 19 provinces and prefectures are affected by the approved projects, in 7 regions of the Kingdom. The main sector concerned is chemicals/parachemistry with 56% of the total amount approved, followed by tourism with 22% as well as the automotive sectors with 7% and construction materials with 6%. The other sectors concerned are agri-food 4% and health, aquaculture, textiles, aeronautics and biotechnology with 1% each. Furthermore, the automobile sector is the main provider of jobs for the projects approved during this CNI as part of the main system with 30% of the total, followed by tourism at 21% and textiles at 16%. %. During the meeting, the head of government recalled that “support for private investment and job creation constitute a priority of the government, stressing that all the stakeholders concerned remain mobilized to sustain the dynamic initiated since the implementation of the new Investment Charter, in accordance with the High Royal Directives”. This 5th Commission, the third to be held during the year 2024, confirms the dynamics of private investment in the Kingdom and demonstrates the positive impacts of the new Charter. Taking part in this meeting were Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Environmental Policy. city, Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Labor and Skills, Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Crafts, the social and solidarity economy, Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Mohcine Jazouli, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of investment, convergence and evaluation of public policies, Faouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, responsible for the budget, and Ali Seddiki, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for development of investments and exports (AMDIE).
