The Moroccan American Network is celebrating the 10th anniversary of "Morocco Day" with a live broadcast from AVActions studios in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 30. This event marks the beginning of the initiative's second decade as a transatlantic platform positioning Morocco as a strategic economic gateway to Africa under the Morocco 2030 vision. The network has grown from a self-funded civic initiative into an economic and cultural program focusing on business networking, media diplomacy, and cultural exchange between Moroccan and American communities.
The Moroccan American Network was founded by US-based Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Hajjam and former US official and attorney LaRuby May. Over the years, the initiative has expanded to include various activities such as leadership, media, and cultural exchange. The 2026 edition of Morocco Day features the global launch of Finkoma.com, a digital platform connecting Moroccan and African talent, entrepreneurs, and investors across North America and beyond. A business panel titled "Shaping Africa's Future" brings together notable speakers, including Tefera Alemayehu, Tatek Eshete, Prof. Abdeslem El Idrissi, and Abderrahid Aboubacar.
The evening's events also include a Transatlantic Media and Diplomacy Forum featuring journalist and academic Hassan Nader. The event concludes with a keynote and book signing by El Idrissi, a neuroscientist, who will present his book on Mustapha El Azemmouri, the first African and Moroccan explorer of North America. As part of the event, the Global Passport Connect program will honor Henok Tesfaye, CEO of USP Holdings / U Street Parking, for his remarkable journey from immigrating to the United States at 16 to building a successful business.
The Moroccan American Network's documented activity dates back to early 2013, according to a record from the Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center (MATIC). The network's first CEO Summit was held on May 31, 2013, at a Virginia hotel, attended by around 150 business owners, community representatives, and public officials. In a 2013 interview, El Hajjam described the network as a nonprofit supporting economic ties between small businesses in Morocco and the United States.
The network has continued to expand its activities over the years, organizing Moroccan Days in Alexandria in 2015 in partnership with the city's mayor and Moroccan government departments. Morocco was also featured at Alexandria's International Waterfront Festival in 2016, with a cultural presentation of Gnawa music and fashion. In 2023, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson proclaimed July 15 as Morocco Day, followed by a public celebration at Market Square featuring Moroccan food, artisans, music, and cultural activities.
Mohamed El Hajjam's profile extends across journalism and audiovisual production, founding and leading AVActions, an Alexandria-based production company that has supported Moroccan-American events for years. He received the Key to the City of Alexandria from former Mayor William D. Euille in 2014, a distinction confirmed by local reporting. The network has also engaged with US institutions, including a 2022 delegation to Morocco led by the US Black Chambers, which met government and business representatives across several cities.
Looking ahead, the Morocco Day 2027 Summit is scheduled for April 16 to 18, 2027, in Casablanca, under the theme "A Decade of Bridge-Building… The Next Decade of Opportunities." The summit will address artificial intelligence, trade, and infrastructure alongside US-African chambers of commerce, academic leaders, and institutional investors. Bertram C. Johnson, former Michigan state senator, is set to be the summit's keynote speaker.
Key points
- The Moroccan American Network marks its 10th Morocco Day anniversary with a live broadcast from Virginia.
- The network plans to build a global "network of networks" across African diaspora communities.
- The Morocco Day 2027 Summit is scheduled for April 16 to 18, 2027, in Casablanca.
