Can Morocco’s bold digital transformation strategy make it a global tech hub by 2030?
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has unveiled the Digital Morocco 2030 plan. It aims to bring Morocco to the forefront of digital innovation. With over $1.1 billion for this technology development strategy, Morocco is set to change its digital scene.
This plan, known as the Morocco National Digital Plan, focuses on improving digital infrastructures. It also aims to boost youth skills and support digital startups. A key part is training 100,000 young people in digital skills each year by 2026.
This will create many jobs, with a goal of 240,000 in the digital sector. The plan is a big step towards making Morocco a digital hub by 2030. It’s not just about the economy; it also aims to improve life for Moroccans by making services more accessible and efficient.
Introduction to Morocco’s Digital Transformation Strategy
The Digital Transformation Morocco strategy, known as Maroc Digital 2030, aims to make Morocco a digital-first economy. Ghita Mezzour, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, leads this effort. It’s a key step for Morocco to reach its digital goals.
By focusing on digital public services and a strong digital economy, Morocco wants to change a lot. It aims for digital inclusion and innovation across the country.
Goals of the Digital Transformation
Morocco’s digital goals are big but possible. The Maroc Digital 2020-2025 strategy aims to make Morocco a top-three leader in digital public services in the Middle East and Africa. The main goals are:
- Fully digitizing administrative transactions by 2030.
- Connecting all relevant structures to a unified public service interface.
- Adopting e-signatures within public institutions.
- Tripling the number of graduates in digital fields by 2027.
- Creating 130,000 jobs in the IT sector by 2030.
- Reaching 70% 5G coverage by 2030.
- Valuing Moroccan startups over $1 billion by 2030.
Investment and Funding
The success of Morocco’s digital goals depends on a lot of investment in technology. A plan to spend USD 1.1 billion shows the government’s serious commitment. This investment is expected to greatly improve the economy and increase exports.
By investing in digital sectors, Morocco plans to create a digitally-savvy workforce. It aims to grow the offshoring sector and build a digital ecosystem that supports innovation and job creation.
The Role of ICT Infrastructure in Morocco’s Development
ICT infrastructure in Morocco is key to the country’s growth. It drives digital change and boosts national connectivity. Morocco is working hard to spread Internet and mobile services, especially in rural areas. It’s also embracing 5G technology to create a strong digital economy base.
These plans aim to make Morocco a digital leader in Africa. They show the country’s vision for a digital economic model.
Improving National Connectivity
Boosting digital growth in Morocco starts with better connectivity. The country has launched key projects to improve this:
- Extending Internet Coverage: There’s a focus on getting Internet to more people, especially in rural areas.
- Telecommunication Accessibility: Improving phone coverage has greatly helped with national connectivity.
- International Rankings: Morocco’s efforts have paid off, moving up to 110th in e-government rankings by 2018 and gaining four more places by 2020.
Adoption of 5G Technology
Adopting 5G is a big step for Morocco’s tech progress. This new technology brings many benefits:
- Faster Internet Speed: 5G offers much quicker speeds, enhancing online experiences.
- Enhanced Connectivity: It ensures more stable and reliable connections, vital for new tech.
- Economic Growth: It encourages innovation and growth in new sectors, boosting the digital economy.
With these steps, Morocco is preparing for a future where ICT is crucial for growth. It shows the value of using advanced technologies like 5G.
Unified Administrative Services Portal
The launch of a Unified Administrative Services Portal is a big step for Morocco’s Digital Morocco 2030 plan, as outlined by Ghita Mezzour. This platform aims to bring together all digital services in Morocco. It will make it easier for people and government to interact.
A huge $1.1 billion budget has been set aside for the portal’s launch. This move is meant to change key areas like health, social protection, and education. It fits with Morocco’s push for better e-governance.
The goals are high. The portal hopes to move Morocco up from its 100th place to the 50th in the UN’s Online Services Index. It also aims to help create 240,000 new digital jobs by 2030. Plus, it wants to boost digital exports to 40 billion dirhams ($4.15 billion).
This portal will also show Morocco’s dedication to updating its public services. By combining digital services, the country will work better and be more open. This will help Morocco stand out in the digital world.
In short, the Unified Administrative Services Portal is a big step for Morocco’s digital future. As these plans come to life, people will enjoy easier and more efficient dealings with government services. It shows that Morocco’s digital efforts are truly changing things for the better.
Revaluing Human Capital Through Digital Skills
Morocco is focusing on Morocco’s human capital through digital skills. The country is using programs like “Maroc Numeric 2013” and “Maroc Digital 2020.” These efforts aim to improve the tech skills of its young people.
Training and Education Initiatives
Morocco is working hard to train top talent. The government wants to increase digital training for the youth. It also plans to triple the number of digital graduates at public universities by 2027.
This push for more education is key. It helps boost Morocco’s human capital and supports the country’s digital growth.
Job Creation Goals
Creating jobs in digital fields is a big part of Morocco’s plan. By improving digital skills development, Morocco hopes to create many new jobs. This will help the economy grow and make Morocco a center for digital innovation.
Support for Startups and Digital Innovation
Morocco is working hard to boost digital innovation and support startups. It aims to encourage entrepreneurship in digital technology. The country is setting up a strong legal and economic base to help its digital ecosystem grow.
Legal Framework for Startups
The government is investing 11 billion MAD from 2024 to 2026 in digital strategy. This effort creates a friendly legal setup for startups. It makes it easier for them to enter public markets and get funding.
Also, laws protect intellectual property. This ensures a safe space for digital businesses to operate.
Incentives for Digital Entrepreneurs
Encouraging digital innovation in Morocco is key. The plan includes raising funds, aiming for 7 billion MAD by 2030. This is a big jump from 260 million MAD in 2022.
The goal is to see 3,000 startups by 2030. This will strengthen digital technology entrepreneurship. The strategy also aims to increase digital export revenues to 40 billion MAD.
E-Governance Initiatives Morocco
The Moroccan e-governance strategy is a big step towards making government services digital. It aims to move up in the United Nations’ e-Government Development Index from 90th to 50th by 2030. Morocco is investing a lot to reach this goal.
Digital ID Program
The digital ID system is key to Morocco’s e-governance plans. It plans to be fully rolled out by Horizon 2025. This will bring a new era of secure and transparent ways to verify identities.
Citizens will get secure government services through eID cards. These cards will make it easy to access over 600 public services. These services cover areas like education, healthcare, and vocational training.
Secure and Transparent Digital Services
Keeping secure government services is a top priority in Morocco. The government is using advanced encryption and authentication technologies. This creates a trustworthy digital space.
This move aims to cut down fraud and make services more efficient. It also wants to increase transparency in public administration. Goals include digitizing 600 public services and setting up a sovereign cloud for data security.
Morocco is dedicated to building a strong digital ecosystem. With more investments and training, the country’s digital future looks promising.
Morocco Tech Industry Growth
Morocco’s tech industry is growing fast. This is thanks to smart planning and strong support for startups. The country is becoming a key player in IT offshoring and startup growth.
Expansion of the Offshoring Sector
Morocco is working hard to grow its IT offshoring sector. It’s making itself more attractive to big tech companies. This growth is key to the tech industry’s success, focusing on areas like cars and planes.
Fostering a Vibrant Startup Ecosystem
A strong startup ecosystem is crucial for Morocco’s tech growth. The government is working hard to create a supportive environment. This includes:
- The Industrial Acceleration Plan (IAP) created 405,496 new jobs between 2014 and 2018, aimed at fueling startup and SME growth.
- Morocco is on a mission to train 100,000 young professionals annually in digital professions to meet the burgeoning demands of the IT sector.
- The country aspires to establish 3,000 startups by 2030, with hopes of achieving 1,000 by 2026.
- Allocating an investment of 11 billion dirhams ($1.14 billion) between 2024 and 2026 to support job creation within the digital sector.
These efforts focus on quality as well as quantity. The aim is to help startups grow into successful companies. This will make Morocco’s tech scene even more innovative.
Digital Inclusion Strategy for Rural Areas
Morocco is working hard to make sure everyone has access to the internet. They have a digital inclusion strategy to help people in rural areas get online. This plan focuses on two main things: getting more internet out to rural areas and building fiber optics there too.
By doing these things, Morocco wants to make sure everyone can use the internet. This is important for connecting people and helping them grow.
Extending Internet Coverage
Morocco is trying to get more internet to rural areas. Even though cities have good internet, many rural places don’t. They are working to fix this by improving mobile networks and setting up internet spots in communities.
This effort is key to making sure everyone can join the digital world. It’s about giving everyone a chance to use the internet for work, school, and fun.
Fiber Optics Deployment
Morocco is also focusing on fiber optics to improve internet speeds. They want to bring fast internet to rural areas. This will help with things like online learning, health services, and shopping.
Building fiber optics means faster and more stable internet. It’s a big step for Morocco’s digital future. It will help rural areas grow and develop.
ICT Policies Morocco
Morocco’s ICT policies are key to its digital growth. They guide the country towards a strong digital future. Plans like “e-Morocco 2010” and “Digital Morocco 2020” aim to boost the economy and innovation.
Yet, not all goals have been met. Despite this, Morocco keeps working to improve its digital scene. In 2020, it ranked fourth in the MENA region for digital progress.
The pandemic has pushed Morocco to grow its digital landscape. Internet and mobile use have increased. However, it has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor.
Morocco plans to make the ICT sector a big part of its economy. It aims to use new tech like AI and fintech to create a unicorn company. It also wants to save time and money by making services digital.
The eID card program is a big part of Morocco’s ICT strategy. By April 2022, over 10 million eID cards had been issued. These cards use biometric data and NFC technology, making services more accessible.
Morocco also wants to make sure everyone has access to fast internet. It aims to do this within three years. This is part of its plan to become one of Africa’s top economies by 2030.
With a solid ICT strategy and the Digital Development Agency (ADD), Morocco is ready for a digital future. It’s all about making life better through technology.
Conclusion
Morocco’s National Digital Plan has led to a big change. It has made the country a top digital hub. This plan includes better ICT infrastructure, more digital skills, and support for startups.
Programs like Digital Morocco and INJAZ helped 64,000 students. These efforts aimed to make digital access for everyone. But, there’s still work to do, especially in rural areas and for women in tech.
International partnerships, like with China, have helped a lot. Projects like the Digital Silk Road and Huawei’s work are key. They’ve helped Morocco get ready for 5G in 2023.
Morocco is now a leader in the digital world. It’s growing its economy and improving society. The plan has set big goals and is on track to meet them.
This plan promises a future full of innovation and digital literacy. It shows the success of Morocco’s digital journey.
Source Links
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- Morocco: Towards the implementation of a national policy dedicated to AI to accelerate digital transformation? – ActuIA
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