Faced with the challenges of the cultural and creative industries (ICC), Morocco is entering a decisive turning point. During the plenary session at the House of Representatives this Monday, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, presented the Kingdom’s ambitious roadmap to consolidate this strategic sector.
The cultural industries, which encompass various sectors such as music, theater, painting, cinema and even electronic games, represent immense economic potential. For example, in 2021, these industries generated nearly 2.9% of global GDP, employing approximately 30 million people according to UNESCO. For Morocco, the objective is clear: to mobilize its talents and resources to make the ICCs an economic pillar and a lever for employment.
However, as Bensaid pointed out, the development of these industries requires a break with rent-seeking practices that hinder innovation. Investment, both material and intangible, is crucial to giving young artists and creators the means to project themselves on the international scene.
Cultural export, an economic lever
One of the major axes of this roadmap is the export of Moroccan cultural creations. Through festivals, exhibitions and even film productions, the Kingdom intends to promote its cultural wealth on an international level. Moroccan cinema, which generated more than 150 million dirhams in revenue in 2023, illustrates this export potential.
Beyond traditional art forms, Morocco is banking on the electronic games industry, a booming sector. This market, which was worth $215 billion globally in 2022 according to Newzoo, offers considerable opportunities. To respond to this dynamic, the government inaugurated the first school dedicated to video game careers. This establishment, developed in partnership with international experts, will train a new generation in the conception, development and design professions.
Moroccan cultural and creative industries (CCI), despite their promising potential, continue to face major structural obstacles. Among the challenges identified are, according to specialists, the lack of appropriate financing, the insufficient structuring of sectors and the need to further develop skills. To remedy this, the national strategy proposes a series of key measures: tax incentives to encourage investments, the creation of public-private partnerships to support innovative projects, the digitalization of cultural content in order to broaden access, as well as as well as international promotional initiatives to highlight the richness of Moroccan culture.
By integrating the ICC into its overall economic strategy, Morocco has the ambition, according to Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, to become a key player on the international cultural scene. This approach goes beyond just economic considerations: it also reflects the desire to assert the Kingdom’s cultural diplomacy while meeting the expectations of younger generations in search of visibility and opportunities.
