AUSIM Conference: Morocco Focuses on Sovereignty and Speed ​​to Accelerate its Digital Development (Minister)

Tangier – Morocco is focusing on sovereignty and speed to accelerate its digital development, making the mastery of infrastructure, data, computing, and technological models a strategic priority, stated Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, on Thursday in Tangier.

Speaking at the 8th Conference of the Association of Information Systems Users in Morocco (AUSIM), held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Minister delivered a keynote address on the theme “AI Made in Morocco: The Speed ​​of a Conquest of Sovereignty,” highlighting the need to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation.

On this occasion, Ms. El Fallah Seghrouchni described digital sovereignty as an “invisible sovereignty,” emphasizing that it has become a strategic imperative for the country’s development.

She explained that digital technology is now a prerequisite for the development of all sectors, due to its cross-cutting nature. She noted that mastering digital technology, infrastructure, and the various technological layers has become essential for building a digital state and for the country’s economic and social development.

The Minister also presented the Ministry’s progress in digital development, as well as the strategies implemented in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), promoting a “frugal, inclusive, and responsible” AI, developed in Morocco, for Morocco, and open to international collaboration.

This ambition, she continued, is part of the “Morocco AI 2030” roadmap, which aims to contribute 100 billion dirhams to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030. She explained that it relies on an ecosystem encompassing sovereign infrastructure, national computing capacity, data, public platforms, a legal framework, innovation, talent, and international cooperation.

Ms. El Fallah Seghrouchni also emphasized the need for swift action, in a context marked by an unprecedented concentration of investments in AI and a global race to master computing and technological capabilities. She noted that, for Morocco and the African continent, this speed must allow them to capitalize on the “leapfrog” effect, provided they bring together four essential factors: energy, computing power, data, and talent.

Regarding the next steps, the minister identified five priority areas: deploying sovereign computing capabilities and facilitating access for researchers and startups; finalizing the legal and institutional framework, particularly in the field of AI; developing models in Arabic, Moroccan Arabic (Darija), and Amazigh (Berber) before expanding to other African languages; training and certifying talent on a large scale; and gradually transitioning from digital to digital services in public services.

In this regard, the minister emphasized that “AI Made in Morocco” reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to “designing, not just using,” while choosing not to wait.

In a press statement, AUSIM President Mohamed Saad emphasized that the choice of Tangier to host this edition reflects the desire to support the transition of artificial intelligence from experimentation to implementation and industrialization. He noted that the city on the Strait, with its port and industrial infrastructure, its location between two seas and two continents, and its openness to multiple cultures, provides a particularly significant environment for addressing this new stage of AI.

He noted that Tangier exemplifies the “tipping point between two worlds” and embodies Morocco’s ambition to make its technology a true AI hub in Africa.

Reflecting on the evolution of the AUSIM Conference, Mr. Saad recalled that this edition follows several previous editions dedicated to various digital-related themes, including data, blockchain, machine learning, and digital transformation.

He explained that AI has emerged as a central theme this year, particularly in light of companies’ questions about how to integrate, experiment with, and leverage it for their development and growth. He emphasized that this edition brings together leaders to share their experiences and present concrete examples of AI integration at the heart of business operations.

The conference is themed “AIMPOWERING: Through Innovation, Intelligence, and Sovereignty.”