RABAT, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- French aircraft manufacturer Daher opened on Tuesday a third plant in the Moroccan Mediterranean city of Tangier.

The launching ceremony was chaired by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Morocco's minister of industry, trade and the digital economy, along with Daher's Chairman Patrick Daher and CEO Didier Kayat.

The factory is Daher's third in Morocco after its first plant in Tangier built in 2001 and a second in Casablanca built in 2007.

The new plant, to be built on an area of two acres (10,000 square meters), will manufacture metal and composite structures as well as parts for the aircraft engine.

It is expected to employ an additional 250 workers.

The Moroccan aeronautical industry has made significant strides over the past decade, with its industrial base growing from a few companies to over 130, including international leading brands such as Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus, Safran, Thales, and Hexel Composite.

The north African kingdom aims to achieve some 2.9 billion U.S. dollars in turnover by 2020 and create 23,000 new jobs in the industry.