MONTREAL—Bombardier Aerospace is expanding its global manufacturing footprint by spending more than US$200 million to build an assembly plant in Morocco.

The worlds third-largest aerospace manufacturer says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the North African country to build the plant in stages over eight years.

The plant’s exact location has yet to be announced, but it’s expected to include sub-assembly capabilities for simple structures.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2013, creating 850 jobs. Details have yet to be finalized, but it’s believed the plant will build floor sections, panels and flight control services.

Morocco provides Bombardier with low manufacturing, shipping and transportation costs, proximity to Europe and a commitment from the government to develop the countrys aerospace industry.

Bombardier currently operates aerospace manufacturing facilities in Montreal, Toronto, Wichita, Kan., Belfast Northern Ireland and Mexico.

Bombardier says its North American workforce it has nothing to fear from this latest move.

Bombardier’s Aerospace president Guy Hachey, who led a delegation of 10 company executives to Morocco, said globalization of the industry has opened up new markets and new opportunities.

Cameron Doerksen of National Bank Financial said the Moroccan venture will likely follow a model established by Bombardier’s Mexico plant—starting small and moving labour intensive work to the lower-cost jurisdiction.

He doesnt believe there will be any impact on employment at Bombardiers North American facilities, which have grown since operations began in Mexico

“Bombardiers got some ambitious growth plans here with the CSeries and the new Learjet and Globals, theres going to be lots of work,” he said. “Theyre not going to move aircraft assembly operations to Morocco. Thats not happening any time soon and its not happening in Mexico any time soon.”