Highlights

As a follow up to demand from the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance, the CMI organized a national consultation:  "Un nouveau modèle de développement pour le Maroc: Quelle feuille de route pour l’économie fondée sur la connaissance?" on April 9 at ISESCO HQ in Rabat. 

This high level consultation brought together policymakers (Director General from several Ministries, including Higher Education, Industry, Commerce and New Technologies, Employment, and Economy and Finance), academics, private sector representatives, and members of the media to discuss ways to enhance Morocco's transition to the KE, based on a detailed background report and a strategic issues note that has been prepared by the CMI team (see attached).  This event, which included some 50 people, was opened by Dr. Altwaijri, Director General, ISESCO, Mr. Mohamed Chafiki,  Director of Studies and Financial Forecasting, Ministry of Economy and Finance and Mats Karlsson, Director, CMI.  

The consultation elicited in-depth comments from the participants on how Morocco could embrace a new model of development based on knowledge, innovation and technology to move on to a higher growth trajectory.  The CMI study on the KE in Morocco was done in agreement with Ministry of Economy and Finance, both to complement the overall regional KE report and also to help Morocco in its development strategy.  Over the past decade, Morocco has launched a series of large sectorial plans to boost selected industries, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and IT. They have been inspired to a certain extent by the KE approach with combination of measures geared towards training and technology upgrading, in addition to infrastructure investments, financial incentives, etc.. These plans have contributed to reduce overall unemployment.

This meeting was covered in the Moroccan press (Aujourdhui, L'Opinion and L'Economiste), see also video clips from MAPTV.