“Connect to Innovate” impulsa la firma de trece acuerdos entre Marruecos e Israel
The city of Casablanca is hosting the "Connect to Innovate" event. It is a conference where several officials and companies from the Alawi kingdom and Israel are meeting to present solutions and new developments to the common challenges faced by both nations. Although still in full swing, the forum is proving very beneficial for the two countries, which have already signed thirteen agreements to cooperate with each other.
"I am very happy to extend my warmest greetings to the Morocco-Israel Connect to Innovate forum and congratulate Start-Up Nation Central and all the partners and participants of the forum for organising this historic event," said Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, who sent a recorded message at the opening of the event. "Together Israel and Morocco can develop innovative solutions that will improve lives, livelihoods and quality of life in our own countries and promote progress and peace throughout the Middle East, Africa and beyond," he continued.
The thirteen agreements signed by the two countries promise to bring major economic benefits. These memorandums of understanding fall under various economic sectors, such as human capital and technology. Initially, the two sides are expected to collaborate on projects related to agri-food technology, water, climate and logistics, mainly. The agreements will also encourage the signing of other documents between companies from both nations, which will seek to achieve an increase in B2B (Business-to-Business) and G2G (Government-to-Government) activities in the aforementioned areas.
"Morocco and Israel have embarked on the path of a win-win partnership in mutually beneficial areas. As planned, we have built a strong and dynamic economic partnership that aims to be innovative in tune with global technological changes. This forum will allow us to further explore avenues of development in promising areas," said Ryad Mezzour, Moroccan Minister of Trade and Industry
Mezzour explained that the projects to be carried out in these economic sectors are framed under Morocco's New Development Model. This programme, recently implemented in the Alawi kingdom, promotes sovereignty and projects related to innovation, research, development and labour entrepreneurship.
The event was attended by Start-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson, who praised the creativity of the Israeli projects. "Innovation has been the driving force of the Israeli economy, leading to steady growth, raising the quality of life and opening up new opportunities on the diplomatic front," he said.
Nonetheless, he had good words for the North African nation and its role in such sectors. "We believe that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty Mohammed VI, is uniquely qualified to partner with Israel to pave the way for a new region of the Middle East and North Africa, connected by a genuine desire for peace and prosperity. This conference is a turning point as we embark on a journey of joint innovation between Israel and Morocco towards economic prosperity," concluded the event's director.
"Connect to Innovate" will end on 26 May and great results are expected from this event. During the three-day event, workshops, conferences, business panels and presentation sessions will bring the two countries closer together through the exchange of knowledge and experience.
The opening of the fair was attended by more than 150 government and business leaders from both countries. In the case of Israel, it is the largest business delegation ever sent to the North African country. The opening of the forum featured speeches by various personalities from both countries. On the Moroccan side, the speeches of André Azoulay, advisor to King Mohammed VI, Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Digital Transformation, Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Mohamed Abdeljalil, Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, stood out. In the Israeli case, the interventions of David Govrin, head of the Israeli mission in Morocco and Avi Hasson himself, director of the event, are important. The closing ceremony is expected to end with a speech by Orit Farkash-Hacoehen, Israel's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
On the business side, business representatives and government institutions from both sides were present, including the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM); AMDIE, ONEE, Crédit Agricole du Maroc, ADD, the Foundation for Research, Development and Innovation in Science and Engineering (FRDISI), UM6P, Ithmar Capital, Tamwilcom, AMDL, SNTL and Lina Holding, among others.