The Moroccan delegation which spoke during this session held by videoconference and devoted to the examination and adoption of the draft African Digital Pact and the Draft Continental Strategy in terms of AI, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s desire to work to build a prosperous digital future for every African and to make the Continent a key player in the global economy.
The two projects selected for this session represent the proactive commitment and significant contributions of the African continent to the Global Digital Compact and the Summit for the Future planned by the United Nations in September 2024, noted the Moroccan delegation, highlighting the efforts made in order to design these ambitious projects which aim to “unify our digital transformation efforts in Africa, while taking into account the challenges and specificities specific to our continent”.
“We must welcome this collective approach which seeks to promote an inclusive and equitable digital society, capable of meeting the needs of all our citizens,” underlined the delegation.
The delegation reaffirmed that Morocco is in the finalization phase of its 2030 national digital strategy which aims not only to contribute to the socio-economic development of the Kingdom, but also to establish the necessary catalysts for a successful digital transformation, both for Morocco and for the region.
This strategy aims to digitalize public services and boost the country’s digital economy, and places particular emphasis on digital inclusion, strengthening infrastructure and skills, as well as the development of a dynamic ecosystem of startups, highlighted the Moroccan delegation.
Likewise, Morocco has put in place several initiatives to encourage innovation and digital entrepreneurship, in particular to support young talents, added the Moroccan delegation, noting that it is crucial to offer them training and the framework conducive to entrepreneurship, because they are the main players in our digital future.
Furthermore, the delegation underlined that Morocco stands out by being among the first countries to have adopted the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and worked towards its implementation.
The Kingdom has considerable assets to accelerate its digital transformation and to promote responsible development of artificial intelligence. Among recent initiatives, the holding of GITEX Africa Morocco which was an excellent opportunity for networking, collaboration and cooperation for key players in the digital sector in Africa. This event not only highlighted innovative solutions “Made in Morocco” and “Made in Africa”, but also attracted the attention of international investors, noted the Moroccan delegation.
“The key figures from GITEX demonstrate our progress and our potential to play a central role in the global digital economy. Proof to support this year with 45,000 visitors, coming from more than 130 countries around the world. Likewise, while we welcomed 900 exhibitors and 400 startups in the first edition, we are delighted to have exceeded these figures with more than 1,400 exhibitors and 700 startups participating this year. These figures clearly illustrate the growing enthusiasm for the African technology sector and the position of GITEX Africa as a catalyst for innovation,” added the Moroccan delegation.
Gitex Africa also offered the opportunity to establish strong partnerships. “We have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Oracle International Group for the establishment of a hyperscale cloud services center in Morocco, a project, which will benefit both the Kingdom and the entire region. In addition, we have also entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation to train 70,000 talents for Horizon 2027. We have also concluded an important agreement for the generalization of the “JobInTech” program. “which aims to Upskill and Reskill 15,000 young graduates in the digital fields across the Kingdom, by 2026”, specified the delegation.
Morocco remains firmly committed to advancing these initiatives for the continent. “We are committed to closing the digital divide and promoting an inclusive, open and secure digital future for all. Our ability to remain flexible and agile in the face of emerging technological developments, including AI, is essential to succeed in this transformation,” the delegation reaffirmed.
