Morocco seeks to expand its international reach with English-language news broadcasting
The English language has been gaining importance in Morocco in recent years, with a greater emphasis on its learning in the education system and its use in the business sector. This shift is largely due to the recognition of the need to be in tune with the globalised world and its linguistic demands. Now, Morocco has taken a further step in its strategy to consolidate its position in the international arena by announcing its plan to broadcast news in English on the country's public channels.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, has stressed the importance of this language policy, with a focus on English and Spanish. Bensaid also underlined the relevance of this measure in strengthening Moroccan diplomacy at the global level, which represents a clear sign of the country's new foreign policy paradigm. This move may be an indication of Morocco's aspiration to be an emerging power in the global market and a reference in the North African region.
The initiative may also increase the country's attractiveness to tourists and foreign investors seeking an international business environment. Moreover, it can provide Moroccans and English-speaking citizens around the world with more direct and accurate access to the country's news, whereby English-language news broadcasting can serve as a tool to improve Morocco's image internationally by allowing information about the country to be communicated more accurately and effectively, similarly noting the success of Spanish-language news broadcasting in Morocco, which has increased the country's popularity among Spanish speakers and attracted more Iberian tourists. The adoption of English in the Moroccan media is expected to increase the country's popularity among English speakers and promote it as a tourist destination.
Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, announced that the state-owned Al-Aoula channel is working on a project to broadcast news in English. This new project aims to pave the way for coverage of international events inside and outside Morocco, as well as for interviews with English speakers. Bensaid pointed out that English is the most widely spoken language in the world, with more than 1.4 billion speakers, which shows the importance of the Kingdom positioning itself in the global market.
In recent years, Morocco has made remarkable progress in promoting the English language at different levels, particularly in education, indicating a growing interest in the language among the population. As part of this process, English is expected to become a compulsory subject in primary schools, and more and more public and public schools are offering English as a second language classes.
The influence of English has also extended to the media, with many major Moroccan newspapers and media outlets offering English versions of their publications. In addition, Moroccan officials are increasingly making use of English in their communications and interactions with foreign countries and organisations, as well as at international events and conferences.
During the OECD ministerial meeting in Paris earlier this year, Morocco's deputy minister for investment, Mohcine Jazouli, delivered a speech in English, reflecting recognition of the importance of language in today's world and the need to be prepared for an ever-changing global landscape.
A British Council report last year found that 65% of young Moroccans consider English to be important, compared to 62% for Arabic and 47% for French. This report, which surveyed 1,211 young urban Moroccans, sought to provide an insight into young people's views on English as a language.