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A SPECTACULAR EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL MARRAKECH AIR SHOW

than 120 world class aeronautics organizations operating

in the country.

For the government and the GIMAS (Group of Moroccan

aerospace industry) this show was also an opportunity to

highlight the launch of the aviation industry in Morocco,

thanks to the growing presence of international com-

panies.

International Marrakech Air Show has been more than

just an air show. It represents an invaluable business and

networking occasion for a variety of entities, with exhibi-

tors specialized in di�erent fields: aircraft construction,

satellite systems, avionics and on-board components,

propulsions engineering, weapons systems and land de-

fence armaments.

Moreover, during the event it has been left time for B2B

meetings which have facilitated the establishment of new

business and trade relations between players: the agree-

ments signed at IMAS underline how it can be conside-

red one of the most strategic event regarding aerospace

industry, consistently with the geographical position of

Morocco and its political stability.

International Marrakech Air Show represents the largest

aerospace exhibition of the African continent and the

unique international event which alternates in odd years

with Dubai Air Show and SIAE Paris-Le Bourget. The 5th

edition, from April 27th to 30th, has been characterized

by an extraordinary success thanks to the presence of

over 160 exhibitors coming from 24 countries of all five

continents.

The event registered a growing success of audience com-

pared to the previous edition: more than 30.000 visitors

and 30 foreign delegations, reflecting the high interest in

IMAS and in the Moroccan aerospace sector which em-

ploys more than 110 companies in the sub-contracting,

with about 11.000 operators, for an economic value of

more than 1 billion dollars.

In the aeronautics sphere, Morocco has become the

strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the wor-

ld and for this reason African governments are looking to

invest in defence capabilities and associated infrastructu-

re. In recent years, the Moroccan aeronautics sector is

enjoying an annual growth rate of 15% to 20%, with more

Great numbers for IMAS: 160 exhibitors,

30.000 visitors and 30 foreign delegations“ ”

76

8

1110

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Moham-

med VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of Sta� of Royal

Moroccan Armed Forces, the opening ceremony of IMAS

took place in the presence of Abdelilah Benkirane, Head

of Government, Bouchaib Arroub, FAR’s Inspector Gene-

ral and commander of the Southern Zone, and members

of thirty foreign o�cial delegations coming from se-

veral countries of Africa and Europe. The opening cere-

mony was marked by the air show of two helicopters of

the Royal Air Force, carrying the national flag, as well as a

parade of the F16 aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force,

followed by the shows of the four aerobatic teams.

Big international names of aerospace sector have parti-

cipated to IMAS: to underline the presence of numerous

American players, to which has been reserved an entire

pavilion that hosted 15 exhibitors, among which Boeing,

FLIR, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney; others, such

as Beechcraft, Gulfstream and Harris, were present in the

outside chalets.

Among the static exhibitions, Rafale C, the Airbus

A400M, the US Air Force C130J Hercules and the

Falcon 900LX have been the most remarkable attraction

of IMAS. For the first time, four flying patrols have taken

part to the show: Frecce Tricolori of Italy, Patrulla Aguila

of Spain, Marche Verte of Morocco, Fursan Al Emarat of

United Arab Emirates.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

THE OPENING CEREMONY WITH OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS

1312

More than 70 airplanes, helicopters and drones presen-

ted in static display and many others admired in flight de-

monstrations.

The sectors from which exhibitors came were di�erent:

Civil Aviation, Spaceflight, Military Aviation, Defence Te-

chnology and Research and Defence authorities from

around the globe.

Among the protagonists at Marrakech Air Show, the-

re were the Italian Leonardo-Finmeccanica, which was

present with Agusta Westland for helicopters and Alenia

Aermacchi for aircrafts, Heliconia, the Moroccan distribu-

tor of Agusta Westland, Airbus, Air Tractor, Boeing, Bom-

bardier, Beechcraft, Catic, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer,

Gulfstream, Harris Corp, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Pratt &

Whitney and Trescal.

FOTO AEREI DASSULT, RAFALE, J130

THE HEART OF IMAS STATIC AND DYNAMIC AIRCRAFTS

1514

These results prove the international value of this event dedicated to the aerospace industry, but it is especially index of the growing importance of Morocco in the African market, for which Marrakech Air Show is the most important

commercial and industrial event, able to contribute to economic emancipation of the continent.

AGREEMENTS SIGNATURE

1. GIMAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THALES This agreement concerns the establishment in Morocco of a technological unit able to print complex metal parts in 3D.

2. GIMAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH TECALEMIT AEROSPACE GROUP At Midparc of Nouacer, it will be installed a unit dedicated to aeronautical pipe.

3. GIMAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH MAGHREB SOLUTIONS It will be realized an installation of a logistics unit at Midparc.

4. GIMAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH AEROSPACE VALLEY This protocol provides for a joint e�ort to develop spatial research and applications and to create clusters.

5. SIGNES PARTNERSHIP WITHIN OFPPT AND FINAERO STTS GROUP This agreement aim at create a chain related to “aircraft painting and seal” at Ismala.

6. SIGNED CONVENTION ONDA/EUROCONTROL For the first time, an European intergovernmental organization which deals with the safety of civilians and military flights has opened its services to an extra - continental country, approaching the African state to European standards and confirming the interest to the aviation industry of the country.

Here are some numbers about B2B meetings organized by ABE, which took part to IMAS for the first time:

- 1.250 pre-organized B2B meetings

- 87,50% of participants are satisfied to have taken part of IMAS B2B meetings 2016.

Morocco has emerged as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world, as proved by the numerous B2B contracts signed and by the number of registered visitors over the four days of the event.

The large number of conferences organized during the four days have represented a great oppor-tunity to create a direct dialogue between professionals and industry in the aerospace sector and to share di�erent experiences.

B2B MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

1716

The web platform created for IMAS was structured to allow the cataloguing of exhibitors and visitors.

After the registration, users had the possibility to access to an advanced platform where exhibitors could create a business showcase and a product catalogue, and visitors could create a profile.

Through an advanced algorithm that incorporates the concept applied for Matching, a project developed by GiPlanet with the aim of facilitate the knowledge of the concrete themes of the company and its development, users could create business links, while a search engine allowed them to find the most suitable business partners through an advanced search.

Moreover, the structure of the online dedicated system

has helped exhibitors in their promotional and communi-

cation activities, providing also all the information about

the program of the event.

For International Marrakech Air Show were created a

Facebook page and a Twitter channel, through which

the users were able to follow in real time the progress of

the event and stay up to date on events organized during

the four days; moreover, socials were used for the pu-

blication of contents, photos and videos regarding daily

IMAS activities.

COMMUNICATIONWEB SITE - SOCIAL - APPLICATION

www.imas-aero.com

Another step developed in IMAS 2016 communication campaign was the creation of an o�cial app for smar-tphone, available for both iOS and Android devices. After the registration, the user had the opportunity to re-ceive updates on the daily appointments of the event, know all services available on site, access the list of exhi-bitors and their exact location.

The app has proved to be an excellent tool to organize business simply and quickly, thanks to the possibility to create digital business card (bCard) and exchange it with other participants.

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2018

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