Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, today inaugurated Africa’s first electronic games exhibition, the Morocco Gaming Expo, in the company of various personalities from the world of arts and culture. This event, which will take place until May 26, marks a crucial step for the gaming industry in Morocco, with the ambition of making Rabat the African capital of electronic games, called “Rabat Gaming City”.
The Ministry of Culture aspires to create a cluster encompassing national and international companies. Rabat Gaming City aims to become not only an important Source of quality jobs, but also a center of cultural and social creativity. Mehdi Bensaid expressed the ambition to make this city one of the main gaming hubs in Africa, as well as a reference in the North Africa/Middle East region.
The inauguration saw the notable participation of several influential personalities, including André Azoulay, advisor to King Mohammed VI, as well as ministers Ghita Mezzour, in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, and Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, responsible for national land use planning, town planning, housing and city policy. The presence of Takaya Imamura, famous Japanese illustrator and video game designer, formerly with Nintendo, added an international dimension to the event.
Japan, as guest of honor, is strongly represented at the show. Imamura plans to meet the public for a signing session on Saturday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m., in the OLM Souissi district.
In a press statement, Mehdi Bensaid underlined Morocco’s commitment to developing an electronic games industry, aiming to capture at least 1% of the revenues of this global industry, estimated at more than $300 billion. “It was therefore necessary to create an ecosystem, forge relationships between Moroccan startups and global companies.“, he explained. The minister also indicated that the main objective of this first fair is to attract large investors to boost the sector and enable sustainable development of local businesses.
The Morocco Gaming Expo promises to be a strategic platform for the gaming industry in Morocco, offering unique opportunities for networking, collaboration and innovation. With this event, Morocco is resolutely positioning itself on the global gaming map, ready to welcome future talents and investments that will shape the future of the sector.
