Moroccan Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid called for a shift from cultural consumption to production at the opening of the ICC conference in Rabat.
During his speech at the opening of the second edition of the Conference of Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC), the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, urged a transformation of the cultural sector Moroccan, moving from passive consumption to active economic production.
This event, organized by the supervisory ministry in collaboration with the Federation of Cultural and Creative Industries (FICC) of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), benefited from the support of the European Union.
Bensaid highlighted Morocco’s place as a major consumer of cultural and creative content, while highlighting its low representation on the production scene. “Our music, our landscapes, our history, our stories, our costumes and our gastronomy contribute to the global ICCs, but it is essential to reinvest our creativity and value our youth within our own country,” he said , calling for a revival of national cultural production.
Neila Tazi, president of the FICC, for her part recalled that these cultural and creative industries bring together artists, players in the digital economy, technicians, tourism and craft professionals, media, traders and service professions. She highlighted the driving role of CCIs in development processes, by strengthening the sense of belonging, creating social ties and building bridges between nations. According to her, exposure to inspiring creative works will shape the empowerment of younger generations.
Ms. Tazi also affirmed that Morocco is committed to integrating CCIs into a new dynamic of inclusive and sustainable economic development, beyond the aspect of human capital. This commitment is reinforced by a strong partnership with the European Union, which, for the first time in June 2023, integrated the cultural and creative industries into its cooperation agreements with Morocco. This partnership demonstrates the common desire for rapprochement and shared prosperity.
The theme of this edition, “Celebrating heritage, investing in progress”, looks at the future of the dynamic and expanding Moroccan cultural sector. Drawing on new trends in governance, financing and digital transformation, the sessions aim to strengthen local creative industries, while promoting job creation and the enrichment of the country’s cultural fabric.
RT/APA
