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Weekly highlights

Gitex Africa

How to speed up Tech made in Morocco

T HE biggest continental event note: the American giant Oracle, a
for the digital economy and
technology company specializing in
databases and the Cloud). The aim
new technologies (Gitex
Africa Morocco) is expe- is to triple the number of graduates
riencing unprecedented success this in the digital sector within a 3-year
year. The 2nd edition of Gitex ope- period.
ned its doors to over 1,400 exhibitors For Ghita Mezzour, Minister De-
(major technology groups, inventors, legate in charge of Digital Transition
experts, institutions, a hundred or so and Administrative Reform, «today
government delegations...), 350 inves- more than ever, Africa needs techno-
tors, 700 start-ups, fintechs, agritechs, logical initiatives to unleash its full
educ techs, health techs, telecoms potential». Mezzour mentioned the
operators, payment solutions develo- success of Morocco’s outsourcing
pers... 130 countries are taking part in business, which has risen 12 places
this 2nd edition, held in Marrakech in the global rankings (to 28th posi-
from May 29 to 31. Artificial intelli- tion)». The Kingdom ranks 2nd for
gence is of key importance this year, outsourcing in Africa,», said the Mi-
along with the cloud, the Internet of nister. This activity generated sales
Things, cybersecurity, big data, and of 17.2 billion Dirhams (USD 1.71
blockchain. The opening ceremony «In a few weeks’ time, we will unveil the Maroc Numéric 2030 strategy. It is a long-term billion), versus 14 billion Dirhams
was packed to the rafters in the pre- project that has been developed in consultation between members of the Government, the (UDSD 1.4 billion) two years ago, i.e.
sence of the Head of Government, public administration, and the private sector», announced Aziz Akhannouch, Head of strong growth of around 20%. Ano-
Aziz Akhannouch, who announced Government, at the packed opening ceremony ther reason for satisfaction is fund-rai-
the main thrusts of the new 2030 digi- the private sector. The challenge is to on the challenge of human resources, sing. Within one year, Morocco has
tal strategy. «In a few weeks’ time, we promote the development of Moroc- training and skills development among moved up from 16th to 5th place in
will unveil the Maroc Numéric 2030 can digital solutions», announced Aziz young talent, both quantitatively and Africa, a sharp acceleration of around
strategy. It is a long-term project that Akhannouch in front of more than a qualitatively». To this end, the Chief 250%. This performance is attribu-
has been developed in consultation thousand participants. According to Executive continued, a strategic agree- table to a number of financing mecha-
between members of the Govern- the Head of Government, «the success ment has been signed with a major nisms that have been put in place. o
ment, the public administration, and of the new strategy remains dependent international reference group (editor’s Amin RBOUB

Morocco eyeing the e-fuels market

M OROCCO is keenly The opening session of this event forward, the two parties signed an
aware of the opportu- was marked by a speech by Leila
action plan dedicated to renewable
energies and green hydrogen for
nities offered by the e- Benali, Minister of Energy Transi-
fuels sector. It has the tion and Sustainable Development, the 2024-2025 period. The signing
assets to meet this challenge, such who called for «the establishment took place last week at the World
as renewable energies and green of an integrated and agile ecosys- Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam.
hydrogen, which are used in the tem to promote the development of «Our cooperation aims to sup-
production of e-fuels. Exchanging e-fuels in Morocco». The Minister port the development of a national
experiences with other countries stressed the importance of creating industry to meet the needs of the
on the advances made in this sec- a favorable environment, including domestic market, but also to deve-
tor will certainly be of great use «R&D, innovation, infrastructure lop green corridors between Mo-
to Moroccan decision-makers and and the necessary human capital». rocco and the northern part of the
operators. This was the aim of the The issue of costs was raised by EU market», said the Dutch ambas-
international conference on E-Fuels Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry sador to Morocco. In this respect,
held by the Green H2 Cluster in and Trade, who considered it deci- Tarik Hamane, Deputy CEO of the
Salé on Friday May 24, 2024. More sive for the viability of E-fuels. Moroccan Agency for Sustainable
than 250 green hydrogen players In terms of bilateral cooperation Energy, MASEN, highlighted «the
took part. in the field of green energy, the Salé Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition Kingdom’s considerable renewable
The participants at the meeting meeting was an opportunity to pres- and Sustainable Development, recom- energy potential, and its world-
examined the various aspects of ent the experience built up between mends setting up an integrated ecosystem class infrastructure of ports, pipe-
E-Fuels: the market, technologi- Morocco and the Netherlands. This to promote the development of e-fuels in lines, and transmission lines, which
cal innovations, applications in experience was marked by «the si- Morocco. will facilitate the transport of hy-
the chemical, aeronautical, marine gning, in Rabat in 2023, of a memo- in the field of renewable energies», drogen to European markets and
and automotive industries, as well randum of understanding on coo- recalled Jeroen Roodenburg, Dutch beyond».o
as sustainable production policies. peration between the two countries ambassador to Morocco. To move Noureddine EL AISSI

Friday 31 May 2024