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China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Moroccoworldnews
STMicroelectronics, a French-Italian company specializing in the manufacturing of electronics and semiconductors, inaugurated today a new production line for electric parts in its plant in Bouskoura, located in the Casablanca-Settat region.
A number of high-profile officials attended the inauguration, including Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour; the Governor of the Nouaceur Province, Abdellah Chater; and the Executive Vice-President of the Back-end Technology and Manufacturing organization, Fabio Gualandris.
Under a budget cover of MAD 2.4 billion ($244 million), the STMicroelectronics new extension covers expanding the factory's current production area by 7,500 square meters, according to a press release from Morocco’s Trade and Industry Ministry.
The venture equally includes the addition of a new production line specialized in producing silicon carbide products for electric vehicles
In addition to increasing the plant’s production capacity, the project will create more than 700 jobs, including 100 engineering positions, STMicroelectronics said in a statement.
The factory extension is “a real achievement for the national electronics industry,” Ryad Mezzour, noting that the manufacturing unit is now “STMicroelectronics’ second largest plant in the world.”
The Moroccan minister added that the project “will enable Morocco to strengthen its position in the value chain of the automotive sector, as a go-to destination for cutting-edge international investments, particularly in electric mobility.”
The minister further explained that “by producing competitive electronic components of world-class quality designed by mainly Moroccan skills, Morocco is making great strides towards reaching its industrial sovereignty.”
For his part, Fabio Gualandris said that STMicroelectronics has been able to extend local operations thanks to “the support of the Ministry of Local Authorities and the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills.”
With the new investment, the Bouskoura plant is transitioning to Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence-backed, fully digitized manufacturing.
