Morocco aims to make artificial intelligence a driver of growth, productivity, and job creation by 2030. The country has set ambitious targets, including creating 100 billion dirhams in added value and 50,000 direct and indirect jobs. However, expert Ahmed Fal Merkazi notes that the real question is how to turn these ambitions into concrete gains in productivity, job creation, and value creation. He emphasizes that investment in AI does not automatically lead to increased productivity, and that several conditions must be met, including access to reliable data, well-organized processes, and employees capable of integrating these tools into their professional practices.
Ahmed Fal Merkazi highlights the importance of prioritizing productivity, employment, and results over investment volume. He identifies sectors that can benefit from AI, including digital services, offshoring, banking, and insurance, where AI can improve information processing, data analysis, and customer relations. In industries such as automotive, aerospace, and agri-food, AI can improve predictive maintenance, quality control, and logistics optimization. Agriculture is also a strategic area, particularly in water management, yield forecasting, and more rational use of resources.
The expert notes that the impact of AI on employment will not be limited to creating jobs for engineers or algorithm specialists. There will also be a need for professionals who can design, adapt, supervise, and evaluate AI solutions in each profession. This requires close cooperation between universities, research centers, training institutions, and companies, with a focus on retraining and continuous learning. It is also essential to anticipate jobs whose tasks will be automated and to prepare for the consequences.
Ahmed Fal Merkazi emphasizes that the success of Morocco's AI ambitions will depend on the effective deployment of AI solutions across the economy, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He notes that the real change will come when AI becomes a daily lever for productivity, innovation, and skills development, rather than just a technological investment. The expert also highlights the importance of data protection and cybersecurity in the development of AI in Morocco.
In terms of preserving Morocco's digital sovereignty, Ahmed Fal Merkazi argues that it is not necessary to produce all the technologies used in-house. Instead, the focus should be on preserving the country's ability to make choices, control its strategic resources, and avoid being locked into a particular technology or supplier. This involves considering data as a strategic asset and mastering its collection, use, circulation, and access.
The expert suggests that Morocco should adopt a selective and pragmatic approach to developing its own AI models, focusing on areas specific to the country's needs, such as administration, healthcare, education, and agriculture. Partnerships with international companies can be useful, but they should be designed to develop Morocco's national capacities, rather than simply acquiring technological solutions.
Ultimately, Ahmed Fal Merkazi believes that the success of Morocco's AI ambitions will depend on its ability to create value and measure its impact effectively. This will require a rigorous governance framework for data and a national capacity to control the systems that exploit it. With the right approach, Morocco can harness the potential of AI to drive growth, productivity, and job creation, while preserving its digital sovereignty.
Key points
- Morocco aims to create 100 billion dirhams in added value and 50,000 direct and indirect jobs through its AI ambitions by 2030.
- Expert Ahmed Fal Merkazi emphasizes the importance of prioritizing productivity, employment, and results over investment volume in AI development.
- Morocco should adopt a selective and pragmatic approach to developing its own AI models, focusing on areas specific to the country's needs.
