by Xinhua writer Tian Ye
RABAT, May 11 (Xinhua) -- At CITIC Dicastal's factory in Kenitra, a coastal city in northwestern Morocco, workers were operating modern equipment in an orderly manner. Amid the hum of machines, aluminum ingots were smelted, cast, machined and coated, eventually becoming gleaming wheels ready for sale.
The factory currently houses two aluminum wheel plants and one aluminum casting plant, earning recognition as Africa's first "lighthouse site" by the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network, which honors cutting-edge manufacturing facilities worldwide.
"This factory represents the advanced level of global aluminum wheel manufacturing," said Zhou Hongji, vice president of the factory, during a presentation. "This designation signifies that Chinese companies have brought advanced technology to Morocco."
Thanks to the country's strategic industrial planning, its automotive industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with vehicles and auto parts exports becoming a key driver of economic growth. Chinese companies, including CITIC Dicastal, have actively contributed to upgrading Morocco's automotive value chain.
"Morocco is currently at a critical stage of development, with enormous cooperation potential with China," said Li Changlin, Chinese ambassador to Morocco.
Situated in northwestern Africa, with coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, Morocco serves as a gateway connecting Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
This geographical advantage, combined with proactive national policies, has made Morocco a magnet for investment, not just in automotive manufacturing, but also in infrastructure, energy and transportation.
"There is also broad potential for cooperation between China and Morocco in livelihood projects," said Moroccan entrepreneur Nasser in his office in downtown Rabat. His office was decorated with photos from Chinese forums and miniature flags from both nations.
"Livelihood projects help promote mutual understanding, and I prefer to work with Chinese companies because of their strong competitiveness," said Bouchiba, who has partnered with Chinese firms in sectors such as agriculture, seawater desalination and mining.
In the northeastern city of Nador city, Shanghai-based Aeolon Technology Corporation, a Chinese private enterprise specializing in wind turbine blade manufacturing, was nearing completion of its first overseas factory. Xu Wenjun, the factory's deputy general manager, said trail operations will begin at the end of May and is expected to create around 3,000 local jobs.
Inside the spacious workshop, huge wind turbine blades were neatly arranged as Chinese and Moroccan workers cleaned their surfaces.
"For me, working here is a great experience," said Oumayma, a new employee. "Both Morocco and China are committed to green development. Here, I'm not only learning new skills, but also gaining a sense of where the future is headed," she said.
Looking ahead, Morocco positions itself as a regional hub for development. As one of the three host countries of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the country has launched ambitious infrastructure projects, including extending the Tangier-Kenitra high-speed railway to Casablanca and Marrakech via a new 430-km line.
In Rabat, several large sports stadiums and hotel projects were under construction. Along the main road connecting Rabat to Casablanca, engineering vehicles were seen shuttling back and forth, offering a vivid glimpse of the country's ongoing construction boom.
Riding this wave of development, businesses have flourished, including Sinotruk International, a leading Chinese truck manufacturer that has brought into Morocco its signature products.
At a showroom near Casablanca, Wang Chao, the company's country manager for the Africa Division, invited me into the cab of a heavy-duty truck.
"It's designed like a passenger car, with a column shifter. The seat is made to reduce driver fatigue, and there's even a small fridge next to it," he said, pointing out the truck's popular features.
Last year, Sinotruk sold approximately 200 concrete mixer trucks in Morocco, each priced at 1.1 million Moroccan dirhams (about 119,000 U.S. dollars).
"Local customers recognize the strengths of our products," said Wang. "Our mixer trucks better suit local conditions than European models and help lower transportation costs."
The strong demand for Sinotruk's products has even led to temporary shortages of some models. Wang said the company plans to expand its network to 10 locations across Morocco by the end of the year to make sales, services and spare parts more accessible to customers.
"The sales data of engineering vehicles are economic indicators of a country. Our performance indicates that Morocco's economy is steadily improving," he noted.
Chadia El Mansouri, Sinotruk's distribution partner in Morocco, echoed this optimism outlook.
"Sinotruk's products stand out for their advantages and cost-effectiveness. Our sales have been steadily growing," she said. "I believe China represents the future." ■