UPS has officially launched its new subsidiary in Morocco after separating from its former local partner last year and now plans to expand its network in the North African country.
The integrator dropped local partner Fath Al Khouloud last summer in favour of operating through a new subsidiary, Landex. This company has been re-named to UPS Maroc and UPS has invested sixteen million Moroccan Dirhams (€1.5 million) into its share capital.
UPS Maroc this week held a large event in Casablanca for customers, Moroccan and international institutions to celebrate its official launch. After South Africa, Morocco becomes the second African country to host a wholly-owned UPS entity.
The new wholly-owned subsidiary consolidates UPS’s position, after seventeen years of existence in Morocco, by providing the company’s clients with deep expertise, tailor-made solutions and an international network.
“Our significant and continuous investments in Africa and the Middle East demonstrate our dedication to help our customers grow in the region and to connect a unified global network. We want Morocco to benefit from our expertise in order to increase its contribution to the global economy,” announced Jean-François Condamine, President, UPS Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa District.
M'hamed Aziz Bensouda, CEO of UPS Maroc, added: “Morocco has access to a large market of 55 countries representing more than one billion customers and 60% of the world’s GDP. By opening UPS Maroc, we will continue supporting our clients and help them develop their business through our logistics expertise, the strength of our global network and connectivity with the entire world.”
In addition to offices in the economic capital, Casablanca, UPS Maroc plans to open multiple UPS Express centers, especially in Tangier, Rabat, and Marrakesh. The expansion of its customs clearance capacities is also scheduled. This set of measures will help to create new local jobs and the company has begun hiring local Moroccan employees, intending to be a company with a high majority of Moroccan employees.
The UPS strategy in Morocco will enable it to provide a true added value to the national economy, and to introduce the most recent technologies for its clients, who can access a broad range of services with the most flexible pick-up and delivery times, respect of international standards and the option of bundled offerings through freight forwarding partners.
Belarbi Redouane, secretary-general of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics, gave UPS a plaque inaugurating the creation of UPS Morocco and the opening of its office in Casablanca.
Commenting on the opening of UPS Morocco, Belarbi said: “By strengthening its position in Morocco, UPS will positively contribute to the national economy in terms of job creation, improving local business access to the company’s international network, and reinforcing Morocco’s place in the UPS worldwide network. Morocco is a strategic gateway for Africa and UPS represents a door to the world for Moroccan exporters. We can only be happy to welcome such a successful company.”
