Akhannouch announces the launch of the Morocco Digital Strategy 2030

The government's Digital Morocco 2030 strategy is expected to be launched in the coming weeks, as announced recently by the Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, during the opening of Gitex Africa 2024 in Marrakech.  

As Akhannouch explained during his speech at the event, ‘this strategy is the result of synergy and intense collaboration between the various actors in the public and private sectors’, also stressing that the government places the digital transition at the top of its priorities.  

The Digital Morocco 2030 strategy is based on two main pillars: the first focuses on the digitisation of public services, while the second aims to give new impetus to the digital economy ‘in order to develop Moroccan digital solutions and create added value and employment’. 

‘The main challenge to support the implementation of this strategy is to train young talents and skills, both qualitatively and quantitatively,’ Akhannouch said, according to Moroccan media.   

To achieve this goal, the Moroccan Prime Minister recalled that the Kingdom signed an agreement in 2023 to triple the number of graduates in the field of digitalisation by 2027. 

Morocco has also signed several agreements with leading multinational companies specialised in the fields of information technology, research and development, in order to accelerate the digital transition and consolidate local human capacities, the Prime Minister added. 

Akhannouch defined the digital transition as ‘an essential lever to consolidate cooperation between African countries’, not as ‘a technological luxury’. He said the digital transition ‘offers concrete solutions to the challenges facing the continent, promotes sustainable development and ensures an enabling environment to strengthen African integration’.  

In this regard, he underlined King Mohammed VI's vision of the future to strengthen ties of fraternity and friendship, as well as exchanges between African countries for mutual benefit, taking advantage of the continent's promising potential. 

Furthermore, Akhannouch wanted to highlight the importance of Gitex Africa, as it is a unique platform to discuss ways to position Africa as a producer and consumer of digital technology. 

‘Today, the digital transition represents an essential factor in cooperation between African countries, contributing, in addition to technological development, to Africa's economic, social and political growth,’ he said.  

Trade between African countries is often hampered by inadequate infrastructure and complex administrative procedures and will benefit considerably from digitisation, as e-commerce and online payment platforms are able to simplify trade operations, reduce costs and increase efficiency. 

Likewise, digitalisation as a driver of innovation fosters the development of new concepts and solutions, such as hackathons and digital start-ups, which stimulates entrepreneurship and job creation. 

Amid these changes, financial technology is playing a crucial role in the integration of African financial markets, Akhannouch said, noting that online payment services and electronic banking are helping to achieve greater financial integration, including in rural areas. 

Thanks to the encouragement of King Mohammed VI, Gitex Africa, which will be attended by more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 130 countries, aims to be a hub for exchanges on the latest technological developments, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, health and cybersecurity.