The Mediterranean Forum of Women Entrepreneurs for more success in the digital economy
- Moroccan women at the heart of sustainable development
- Reforms for women: equality and economic empowerment
- ASCAME, the initiative that believes in the potential of women entrepreneurship
- Digitalisation at the disposal of the entrepreneurial woman
The Association of Moroccan Women Entrepreneurs organized, on October 3 and 4 at the Palace of Arts in Tangier in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of the region Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima, the Association of Chambers of Commerce of the Mediterranean (ASCAME) and the Association of Organizations of Women Entrepreneurs of the Mediterranean (AFAEMME), the 16th edition of the Mediterranean Forum of Women Entrepreneurs under the theme ‘from the Mediterranean to the world women's leadership without limits’.
The main theme of the new edition of the forum was the involvement and introduction of women in technology, taking it as a tool that eliminates the stigmas linked to gender and stimulating digital innovation. It was stressed that the inclusion of a more gender-diversified workforce for companies in the digital age is essential.
The forum underlined that, in the technological field, diversified teams generate the most creative solutions thanks to the talents of women, who represent a significant proportion of technology users. Their presence in the digital world contributes to the creation of a more inclusive environment and the development of products with high added value.
Moroccan women at the heart of sustainable development
Chaaibia Balbzioui Alaoui, president of the Association of Moroccan Women Entrepreneurs in the Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima region, explained how Moroccan women have made significant achievements since the accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne; being at the heart of sustainable development.
Given the continuous support of the Alawite monarch and the royal guidelines, which call for facilitating women's access to political, economic, social, cultural and artistic domains, as well as guaranteeing them quality education and training, Moroccan women have become key players in Morocco's economic and social transformation.
Alaoui praised the major changes Morocco has undergone in the field of human rights, especially women's rights, as well as the consolidation of its role as a pioneering actor participating in the transformation and development of the country.
Thanks to its expertise, it has been able to establish fruitful relations between the different countries of the Mediterranean basin in search of new opportunities in the green economy and the digital economy.
‘The development of the country in various domains with an advanced infrastructure, which not only ensures the quality of life of citizens, but also attracts foreign investors from all over the world, gives every day more favourable space for the growth of female entrepreneurship and a bright future for Moroccan women entrepreneurs,’ added Chaaibia Balbzioui.
The real guidelines, according to the president of AFAEMME, focus on improving the socio-economic situation of Moroccan women and their efficient participation in the economic, political, scientific and artistic fields in order to strengthen the presence of women in decision-making positions.
‘In that sense, the major reforms launched by the Kingdom aim to consolidate the legislative protection and socio-economic empowerment of women, also to strengthen the pioneering role of women not only in the country but throughout the world by building a strong network linking leading businesswomen in the different Mediterranean countries to create new investment opportunities and achieve common success,’ she concluded.
Reforms for women: equality and economic empowerment
The Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion and Family, Aawatif Hayar, listed the legislative reforms implemented to ensure equality and economic empowerment of Moroccan women in order to improve their situation in the different territories of the Kingdom.
Aawatif Hayar highlighted Morocco's positive interaction with international conventions on human rights, gender equality and the fight against violence; given the national reforms carried out such as:
- The revision of the family code (2004).
- Article 19 of the Constitution (2011) on gender equality
- The law of elections for more representation of Moroccan women.
- The law on the representation of women on the board of directors of companies registered on the stock exchange, which must reach 30% by 2024 and 40% by 2027.
The minister said that ‘ending violence against women, the empowerment of women and girls and the fight against all types of discrimination and the consolidation of equality in different sectors represent the challenges that Morocco has successfully faced and continues on its path towards the protection and integration of women in a developing Moroccan society’.
Hayar hailed the feminist movement in Morocco for having contributed to improving the situation of Moroccan women, pointing to the three axes of the government's 2023-2026 strategy, with its own budget foreseen in 2025, aimed at improving the situation of Moroccan women, which lie in: women's empowerment and leadership, social protection and welfare, and rights and values that are in line with national legislations and international commitments.
‘With three female mayors in Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat and a female president of the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun, Moroccan women set an example of what they are capable of achieving as indispensable actors in the socio-economic fabric and political scene of the Kingdom of Morocco,’ added the minister.
ASCAME, the initiative that believes in the potential of women entrepreneurship
Ahmed El-Wakil, President of the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce, explained how ASCAME, since its creation in 1982, has contributed to the creation of opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the different chambers of commerce of the Mediterranean countries, especially the countries of North Africa, taking into account women entrepreneurship for the development of the private sector in the region.
‘It was a pioneering initiative that reflects the interests of the economic actors of the private sector in several countries of the Mediterranean basin and that also consolidates the diversity of the investments made for the good of Mediterranean businesswomen,’ said El Wakil, mentioning that ’it is not only a question of gender equality but of the great influence that women have on the economic fabric through the various commercial activities’.
The president of ASCAME emphasised the importance of improving the socio-economic situation of women as a sine qua non condition for the sustainable development of Mediterranean countries and the fight against poverty, providing them with access to financial tools and support in the development of their projects.
Digitalisation at the disposal of the entrepreneurial woman
In the context of an increasingly digitalised world, Latifa Ayeb, advisor to the Minister of Digital Transition and Reform of the Administration, presented the general lines of the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, which aims to update the Moroccan administration and consolidate opportunities for women's access to digital tools for the construction of a modern social state.
‘Digitalisation is a very important opportunity for women entrepreneurs both in Morocco and in other Mediterranean countries,’ Ayeb added, affirming that the government's strategy seeks to support female startups operating in different digital domains from the origin to the possible internationalisation of the emerging company.