Finances News Hebdo: The Kingdom has set up ambitious plans for its digital transformation. Can you tell us more about the objectives of these plans and their importance for the future of Morocco?
Abdeljil seedlings: The initiatives “Morocco Digital 2020” and, more recently, “Morocco Digital 2030” illustrate a long -term strategic vision, perfectly aligned with the wish of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to make digital a real engine of economic, social and territorial development. It is not only a question of modernizing the tools or adopting the latest technologies. The ambition goes far beyond: it is a complete transformation of production models, governance methods and sources of growth. In other words, Morocco aspires to evolve from a traditional economy to a digital economy, where innovation, data and connectivity occupy a central place. This requires massive investments in infrastructure, overhaul of education systems, support for digital entrepreneurship and an adaptation of regulations. This transformation is crucial for the future of the country and is part of the royal vision of building a modern and prosperous Morocco, capable of taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital world. Digital opens up considerable perspectives in terms of job creation, improving business competitiveness, simplification of public services and reduction of social inequalities. By positioning itself as a regional technological hub, Morocco can attract foreign investments, stimulate local innovation and share its expertise with other African countries. Ultimately, it is a question of ensuring the economic and strategic sovereignty of Morocco in an increasingly digital world.
FNH: Morocco relies on massive investments in digital infrastructure. What are the main axes, and how do these efforts translate concretely in the lives of citizens?
A. S. : Investment in digital infrastructure is an important element in the digital strategy of Morocco, aimed at providing the country with a modern infrastructure adapted to the digital age. This is materialized by several tangible initiatives. First, a considerable effort is made to extend high speed internet coverage throughout the territory, with a vast deployment of optical fiber in urban areas, while offering alternative solutions, such as satellite, for rural areas. Morocco also relies on the development of 5G, the new generation of mobile networks, which promises much faster connection speeds and reduced latency. This will open the way to new uses already in emergence, such as the Internet of Things, virtual reality and autonomous vehicles. Finally, the country is investing in the construction of advanced data centers, essential for hosting digital services and ensuring data security. The impact of these investments in Moroccan society is already palpable. Internet access has improved significantly, promoting the adoption of digital uses both by individuals and by companies. There is an increase in the number of Internet subscribers, an explosion in electronic commerce and a progressive digitalization of public services. In addition, connectivity has beneficial effects on education, health and social inclusion. It allows students to access online resources, doctors to practice telemedicine and rural populations to benefit from essential services. These advances help to achieve the royal vision of a connected and inclusive Morocco.
FNH: The development of a startup ecosystem is an essential element of the Moroccan digital strategy. How does Morocco support these startups and what are the most promising sectors?
A. S. : Morocco has clearly understood that startups play a key role in innovation and job creation, in line with the royal vision of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. This is why the country has set up several initiatives to promote their development. Among them are the creation of incubators and startup accelerators, who offer overworked support to young entrepreneurs. There are also specific financing mechanisms, such as investment funds and reduced rate loans. In addition, the Moroccan government encourages exchanges with sub -Saharan Africa, by facilitating partnerships and commercial collaborations with startups from other African countries. Regarding the most promising sectors, we can cite e-health, which uses digital technologies to improve access to care and quality of life of patients. Fintechs, which offer innovative financial services, are also experiencing strong growth. Agritech, which incorporates digital technologies in agriculture, helps to optimize yields while reducing environmental impact. Without forgetting the intelligent logistics that is based on data and automation to improve the efficiency of supply chains. It is a booming sector. The export of digital services, in particular through offshoring, also constitutes a considerable engine of growth and creation of qualified jobs.
FNH: Despite the progress made, Morocco is facing challenges in its digital transformation. What are the main obstacles to be made to ensure inclusive digital development?
A. S. : Digital transformation in Morocco is a complex process that has specific challenges. One of the main difficulties lies in the lack of skills adapted to the needs of the market. The digital sector has a glaring need for qualified professionals, and the current training offer is often insufficient, even unsuitable. It is therefore imperative to improve teaching programs, especially in fields such as engineering, computer programming, automatic learning and cybersecurity. The digital divide is another major problem, resulting in unequal access to the Internet and digital services, especially in rural areas and on the outskirts. It is essential to reduce this gap by investing in infrastructure and by launching digital access initiatives, in accordance with the directives of His Majesty, in order to promote fair and inclusive growth for all. Digital security is also a growing concern, faced with the rise of cyberrencies in critical sectors, as was the case with recent attacks aimed at significant entities. Morocco must strengthen its capacity to detect and counter these threats by implementing a national cybersecurity plan and forming experts specializing in this field. The Directorate General for Information Systems Systems (DGSS) is already doing a lot of work in this direction, which must be greet and support with more means. In the end, digital transformation requires a change in organizational culture, both in the public and private sector. It is essential to adopt new work strategies, to stimulate creativity and to promote a data -oriented culture.