Morocco's Green Impact Summit Signals Major Push for Sustainable Transport
The groundbreaking event aims to transform sustainable mobility and transport decarbonization across Africa through its three-day summit, scheduled for February 11-13 at Anfa Park.<\><\>
According to organizers, the summit marks a crucial step in Morocco\u2019s commitment to green transition and sustainable mobility.<\><\>
Mohamed Hifdi, Vice President of FTL-CGEM and President of GIES2025, told Morocco World News (MWN) that \u201cthis is the first exhibition dedicated to sustainable mobility and transport decarbonization.\u201d<\><\>
The event \u201cwill bring together various ecosystems \u2013 energy, transport, logistics, distribution, and industry \u2013 with a significant digital component,\u201d he elaborated.<\><\>\>\> \>\> \>\> \>\> \>\> \>\> \>
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Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Orange Corners Morocco: Fostering Innovation Beyond Traditional Business Hubs
Rabat — Morocco's entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing a transformation, driven in part by innovative programs that extend beyond traditional business centers to reach emerging talent nationwide. The Netherlands' Orange Corners program, a six-month incubation initiative, exemplifies this approach by rotating between different Moroccan regions every six months, ensuring that entrepreneurial support reaches beyond the established hubs of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Morocco World News (MWN) sat with the Netherlands Ambassador to Morocco Dirk Jan Nieuwenhuis and two Orange Corners alumni to discover its impact on young Moroccan entrepreneurs and startups. Nieuwenhuis explained the strategic thinking behind this mobile approach: 'There's so much more to Morocco than just the big cities… there's also a whole world of cities like Beni Mellal, Nador, Agadir, other parts of Morocco that merit our support for the entrepreneurs that are in this region.' The on-the-ground application of the program has yielded impressive results, particularly in women's participation, which exceeds 40% in these regional locations. The program reaches distant regions and aims to find the untapped potential that exists beyond Morocco's major metropolitan areas. Success stories: from wastewater to sustainable construction As startups and young entrepreneurs take endeavors to make their dreams into reality, some know what door to knock on. In the landscape of entrepreneurship, training, mentorship, and network follow-ups are sometimes more important than having monetary capital. Two alumni of the Orange Corners program demonstrate that the program helped them make their innovative solutions, emerging from Morocco's entrepreneurial ecosystem, come true. Their ventures address critical challenges facing both Morocco and the broader African continent. Salma Bougarrani, CEO and co-founder of Green Watech, has developed a groundbreaking approach to wastewater treatment and agricultural reuse. Her company addresses two pressing issues: over 70% of Moroccan rural and urban areas lack basic sanitation services, and the country is experiencing its worst water crisis in four decades. 'The reuse of treated wastewater is not anymore a choice, it's mandatory,' Bougarrani explains to MWN. Her solution focuses on African-adapted, low-tech approaches that are energy-free and significantly more cost-effective than existing technologies, 70 percent cheaper in maintenance and 30 percent cheaper in implementation. Since graduating from Orange Corners, Bougarrani's Green Watech has expanded dramatically, growing from 1,000 to 85,000 end users across seven additional Moroccan regions. The company has treated over 500 million liters of water and contributed to the production of more than 80,000 tonnes of food. Youness Ouazri, founder and CEO of Ecodome Maroc, tackles sustainable construction using local raw materials. His approach addresses energy efficiency challenges in Morocco's construction sector, which ranks as the second-highest energy consumer after transportation. By utilizing earth and other local materials, Ecodome Maroc creates buildings that naturally adapt to weather conditions, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 40-50% compared to conventional construction methods. 'We managed to reduce the price of construction up to 40 to 50 percent compared to regular methods,' Ouazri told MWN. This cost reduction helps democratize access to infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Ouazri spoke of the training and mentoring aspect of the program as a key player in his journey, starting from an idea to scaling up his project, which he now thinks can contribute to the country's hosting of two major and prestigious football tournaments. Strategic collaboration and cross-sector partnerships The two entrepreneurs exemplify the collaborative spirit that Orange Corners fosters. Following their respective cohorts in Casablanca, Bougarrani and Ouazri partnered on an ecological resort project, combining Green Watech's sanitation expertise with Ecodome Maroc's sustainable construction capabilities. This collaboration has positioned them strategically for Morocco's upcoming hosting of the African Nations Cup in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2030, with Ouazri noting that the current context is 'keen to receive investments and to develop infrastructure for rural tourism.' Public-private partnership model The Orange Corners program operates as a public-private partnership, a structure Ambassador Nieuwenhuis considers essential for effective development cooperation. 'What they bring to the table in terms of expertise, in terms of funding, and in terms of experience and networking, it can never be dealt with by a government agency,' he explained. The program provides comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, international network access, monthly allowances, prototyping subsidies, and seed funding for selected entrepreneurs. This multi-faceted approach addresses the critical gap between pilot projects and scaling phases that many Moroccan entrepreneurs face. Broader Dutch-Moroccan cooperation Orange Corners represents just one element of the extent of the Netherlands and Morocco's working collaboration. Other initiatives include the Shiraka program for government-to-government expertise exchange, agricultural innovation support, and energy transition partnerships. The Netherlands sees particular potential in Morocco's renewable energy capacity, including green hydrogen and green molecule production for export to European markets through the Port of Rotterdam. Morocco's entrepreneurial renaissance Ambassador Nieuwenhuis observes that Morocco in 2025 represents 'a very dynamic country with a lot of potential,' with approximately 300,000 new graduates entering the market annually. The country's development over the past two decades, particularly in infrastructure and entrepreneurship, has created an ecosystem that supports innovative business development. The Orange Corners alumni network includes notably successful graduates, including a former Moroccan minister, demonstrating the program's impact on developing leadership across sectors. As Morocco prepares for major international events and continues its sustainable development trajectory, programs like Orange Corners serve as catalysts for innovation, helping transform creative ideas into viable businesses that generate employment and contribute to the country's economic diversification. The success stories of Green Watech and Ecodome Maroc illustrate how targeted support, combined with local innovation and international partnerships, can address fundamental challenges while creating scalable business models suitable for broader African markets.
Morocco World
09-08-2025
- Morocco World
ASEAN Countries Bring First Cultural Festival to Morocco
Rabat — Six Southeast Asian embassies to Morocco hosted today the country's first ASEAN Bazaar and Cultural Festival in Rabat, marking a milestone in cultural exchange between the regions. The Royal Thai Embassy led the initiative alongside embassies from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, running from August 9 to 11. The event celebrates ASEAN's 58th anniversary and promotes the organization's partnership with Morocco. ASEAN, which stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, formed in 1967 to strengthen political, economic, and social ties across the region. The event provides a platform for visitors to enjoy cultural performances from participating countries and sample authentic Southeast Asian food and drinks at affordable prices. The festival aims to introduce Moroccan audiences to ASEAN cultures and display traditional products from member countries. 'This is the first time ASEAN embassies jointly organize such an event in Morocco,' organizers said in a press release. The festival also features the growing sectoral dialogue partnership between ASEAN and Morocco. ASEAN includes ten member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization works to promote cooperation across Southeast Asia. Thailand's Ambassador to Morocco, Fabio Chinda, expressed his appreciation for Moroccan-Thai relations during today's event inauguration. 'Today we were here to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the ASEAN foundation, and we have the flag raising ceremony, which we do every year,' Chinda said in an interview with Morocco World News (MWN). The ceremony was part of the first-ever ASEAN Bazaar and Cultural Festival held in Morocco, featuring cultural performances and authentic cuisine from Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. A unique cultural bridge The ambassador stressed the significance of these growing ties, stating, 'This marks the symbol of friendship between Thailand and Morocco, hoping this friendship will last long and stable.' For her part, the ambassador's wife Maneevarong Chinda shared her excitement about Morocco's first-ever ASEAN Bazaar and Cultural Festival, taking place at the Thai Embassy through August 11. 'This is the first time we've organized an ASEAN Cultural Food Festival here in Rabat,' she told MWN. She noted how six ASEAN countries have come together to feature their authentic cuisine and traditional products. 'I hope everyone can join and enjoy today — maybe next year we can organize it again!' said Manuong, expressing optimism for making this cultural bridge an annual tradition. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Ambassador to Morocco, Dato' Shahabudeen Adam Shah, expressed enthusiasm for growing Morocco-ASEAN partnerships during today's inauguration. 'We are proud to be here and we are proud to be having very close cordial bilateral relation with the Kingdom of Morocco,' he said in an interview with MWN. The diplomat spoke about Morocco's status as an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner since 2023, noting that 'there are a lot of elements of cooperation between Morocco and ASEAN.' Speaking of growing bilateral relations with Morocco, he said, 'We are really looking forward to further enhancing our cooperation not only bilaterally between Malaysia and Morocco but also between ASEAN and Morocco in the future.' Vietnam's Ambassador to Morocco, Le Kim Quy, reflected, for her part, on three decades of her country's ASEAN membership during today's flag-raising ceremony at the inauguration ceremony. 'This year, Vietnam celebrates the 30th anniversary of its accession to ASEAN,' the ambassador told MWN. The event represents a significant cultural bridge between Southeast Asia and the North African country, giving Moroccans their first taste of a comprehensive ASEAN cultural experience.
Morocco World
24-07-2025
- Morocco World
Is Morocco Becoming Europe's Backyard? Engineers Earn €1,500 vs €6,500
Marrakech – Morocco's Industry and Trade Minister, Ryad Mezzour, sparked controversy in mid-July when he presented the significant wage gap between Moroccan and European engineers as a strategic advantage during an official meeting at the German ambassador's residence in Rabat. Mezzour revealed that the same highly skilled Moroccan engineer who would cost a company in Germany about €6,500 monthly can be hired in Morocco for just €1,000 to €1,500. The minister described this stark disparity as an opportunity for foreign companies while suggesting engineers would be 'much happier' living in their home country with these wages. 'An engineer who graduates with distinction and goes to work in Munich will cost the company about €6,500 per month between salary and social contributions,' Mezzour stated. He added that the same engineer could be employed in Morocco for between €1,000 and €1,500 for identical work, expressing his belief that 'the engineer will live much happier in his country with a salary that allows him to own an apartment and start a family life.' Human outsourcing Economic analysts told Morocco World News (MWN) that this wage gap raises fundamental questions about the country's development strategy and its role in global value chains. Rather than developing technology or products, Morocco appears to be positioning itself as an exporter of affordable brainpower for multinational companies. While official discourse frames this as 'providing solutions,' critics view it as a form of human outsourcing. The minister also acknowledged that Morocco's economy cannot currently absorb all its trained talent, pushing many skilled Moroccans to seek opportunities abroad. Instead of rethinking the development model to retain these professionals, the government has doubled the number of medical graduates and increased engineering graduates tenfold to produce more exportable talent. 'We used to train 1,500 doctors annually, but 800 of them were recruited each year, especially to Germany,' Mezzour said, continuing that German universities would recruit entire classes of engineers before graduation. Mezzour described these young graduates as 'hungry' to integrate into life and create a future for themselves, insisting they represent 'a tremendous force for those who deal with them respectfully and within a balanced partnership framework that ensures contribution to their valorization within Morocco.' Beyond 'cheaper is better' for sustainable growth Mohammed Afzaz, a Qatar-based Moroccan economic analyst, told MWN that betting solely on the wage gap to attract foreign investment may backfire for the kingdom in the long run. 'Morocco's bet on the 'cheaper is better' principle to attract foreign investments may not be the most suitable wager for the kingdom amid strong competition from other Arab and Asian countries that adopt the same strategy,' Afzaz explained. He cited Vietnam and Bangladesh as countries that tried this model before concluding they needed to support innovation rather than simply being open territory for mobile capital. For Morocco to retain its high-caliber talent, Afzaz suggested a five-point strategy: achieving fair wages with growth guarantees, enabling continuous training opportunities at home and abroad, investing heavily in research and development, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship rather than turning engineers into 'stagnant employees and numbers among other numbers,' and providing social and health protection for professionals and their families. 'Morocco in this critical period of its rising development project needs its competencies to play a central role in leading the desired economic takeoff,' Afzaz stressed, though he acknowledged that preventing talent migration entirely would be impossible given global market demands. Afzaz pointed out that the global context presents unique challenges, adding: 'Trump's ongoing trade wars' and persistently 'high inflation levels no longer exempt any country in the world.' He warned that 'if wages do not move to keep pace with rising prices, purchasing power gradually declines.' Cultural factors offset wage disparities Contributing to the discussion, economist and Director of the Government Work Observatory Mohammed Jadri spoke to MWN about several structural factors he believes help explain why the wage gap hasn't triggered a full-blown talent exodus. 'The lifestyle and cultural attachment: A significant portion of Moroccan engineers prioritize family stability, cultural proximity, and quality of life that the country can offer, especially in major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, or Tangier,' Jadri said. He pointed to growing local opportunities thanks to industrial strategies launched since 2014, the relatively lower cost of living, and government policies encouraging training and professional integration as factors helping Morocco maintain its talent pool. Jadri specifically mentioned the Industrial Acceleration Plan launched in 2014 and continued by the current ministry, which has created interesting prospects in several sectors, including 'automotive, aeronautics, electronics, and offshoring' that offer career advancement and specialization opportunities. He also underlined the role of government training initiatives through OFPPT (Office of Professional Training and Work Promotion), the Cités des Métiers et des Compétences (CMC), and ANAPEC employment contracts in structuring a skills pipeline aligned with industrial needs, which strengthens local employability. Jadri characterized the wage gap not as social dumping but as an acknowledged comparative advantage in Morocco's strategy. 'Morocco positions itself as an intermediate alternative between low-cost countries like Bangladesh or Ethiopia and European countries. For multinationals, it's an opportunity to optimize costs without compromising quality,' he stated. 'Morocco does not practice a race to the bottom,' Jadri insisted. 'The minimum wage (SMIG) is regularly revalued, collective agreements are developing in certain industrial zones, and mechanisms for social dialogue exist.' Looking forward, Jadri argued this cost differential is only sustainable if accompanied by structural transformation of Morocco's industrial fabric. 'The simple cost advantage will eventually erode with rising social and wage demands,' he went on to say. 'It is therefore necessary to invest in continuing education and technical and scientific fields, promote R&D partnerships between industrialists and Moroccan research centers, strengthen the ecosystem of industrial and deep tech startups, and integrate global value chains at a higher level,' he concluded. International integration will drive wage growth Offering a critical perspective, economist and researcher at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Zakaria Firano explained to MWN that Morocco's current level of human capital remains average by global standards, leaving substantial room for improvement. 'Morocco is situated in terms of human capital in the world average, according to the World Bank index, at a level of 0.5 to 0.55, which means that the qualification of Moroccan human capital remains average compared to different countries of the world,' Firano observed. This moderate productivity level partly explains the salary gap with European counterparts. Firano provided concrete examples to illustrate this point: 'We are in the industrial sector always at a level of contribution to added value to gross domestic products around 28% to 29%.' For him, 'this means that any improvement in human capital in the medium and long term will allow the industrial sector to reach the objective we want, which is to reach more than 40% of added value, not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality and also in terms of quality competitiveness internationally.' Firano linked the salary differential to productivity gaps, remarking that 'in European and developed countries, [highly qualified human capital] remains a bit more important than what we find here in Morocco.' To reduce this gap, he argued Morocco must raise both the level of human capital and its contribution to added value, especially in industrial and service sectors. Comparing minimum wages across countries, Firano stated: 'If we take a minimum wage, we will simply compare it with Spain, it's around 300 euros in Morocco compared to more than 1,084 in Spain,' adding that the minimum found in countries with relatively low minimum wages in Europe, 'like Croatia, Poland, etc., is double, triple what we find, triple the minimum wage in Morocco.' On the sustainability question, Firano gave a firm 'probably not' to whether the wage differential can persist long-term. 'We cannot have a certain sustainability through salary attractiveness if we are in an economy that is beginning to integrate internationally,' he stated. With Morocco's international integration level around 65% and continuing to open up, prices will increasingly align with international levels. 'The obligation to converge with new international professions in technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence will require increased qualification and human capital,' Firano added. This human capital improvement will generate higher added value and productivity, inevitably leading to higher wages. Young talents seek fulfillment beyond salary Weighing in on the debate, economist and academic Mohammed Chiguer shared with MWN that salary isn't the decisive factor behind brain drain decisions, and put it bluntly: 'Moroccans flee their country, but French people also flee their countries.' 'I believe that the minister's statement is simply to support the movement observed for some time, the return of Moroccan talents who even resided in France,' Chiguer said. He pointed to many Moroccan professionals born and educated in France who have chosen to settle in Morocco, with Casablanca serving as a vital platform for those wishing to work with Africa. Chiguer placed the situation in its international context, particularly considering Europe's employment challenges. 'France is experiencing problems in this area. In fact, the unemployment rate for graduates is beginning to worry them,' he asserted. According to Chiguer, young talents seek self-fulfillment through multiple channels. 'The main reason for brain drain or the return of brains is that young people seek to realize themselves not only through a more or less high salary but also through other conditions,' he clarified, referencing Morocco's efforts to establish itself as a true African hub. 'It's a question that really needs to be placed in its context and take into consideration the international situation, take into consideration the situation in Europe in particular and in France more particularly,' Chiguer concluded. Read also: Morocco's Auto Labor Cost: Just $106 Per Vehicle Tags: Moroccan EngineersRyad Mezzourwages
