Morocco is strengthening its role as a regional digital leader through a new series of strategic agreements with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). These were signed during the first National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, held in Rabat under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The conference served as a platform for advancing cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and digital development.
Themed “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable and Responsible Development”, the conference brought together government officials, international technology leaders, and development organizations. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, hailed Morocco as a leading model in Africa and the Arab world, stating that its digital vision places AI at the center of sustainable development and innovation.
During the event, the DCO signed multiple memoranda of understanding with the following Moroccan institutions:
Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform: To support innovation and inclusive digital development;
Ministry of National Education, Early Childhood, and Sports: For integrating digital technology into education and improving digital competencies;
Crédit Agricole du Maroc: To promote digital inclusion in rural areas and help digitize small agricultural enterprises;
Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills: To facilitate job creation using AI-powered platforms and support MSMEs;
Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development: To collaborate on green data centers powered by renewable energy;
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University: To build sustainable data infrastructure and strengthen digital sovereignty;
Al-Jazari Institute (in Nador): A new center of excellence in AI training and research;
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): To promote digital inclusion in Africa and the Arab world;
Current AI: To support ethical use of artificial intelligence in various sectors.
These agreements aim to build a digital ecosystem that supports youth, women, and small businesses, aligning with Morocco’s broader national strategy to digitize 100% of administrative services by 2030, train 50,000 youth annually in AI and digital technologies, and raise the digital economy’s contribution to 20% of GDP.
The DCO itself, established in 2020, includes 15 member states across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and now Morocco. Representing over 600 million people, the DCO’s mission is to foster inclusive digital cooperation and technological development.
Its strategic roadmap through 2035 centers on five pillars: expanding digital skills and internet access, promoting environmentally friendly AI, enhancing cybersecurity and data protection, building ethical and inclusive AI frameworks, and supporting entrepreneurship through regional innovation platforms.
By entering into these targeted agreements, Morocco reinforces its ambition to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital innovation, serving as a bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.
