Latest news with #ElFallahSeghrouchni
Arabian Post
12-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Morocco Advances Digital Sovereignty with 500 MW Green Data Hub
Greenlogue/AP Morocco is embarking on an ambitious project to construct a 500 megawatt data centre powered entirely by renewable energy in Dakhla, Western Sahara, according to digital transition minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni. The facility aims to bolster the protection and localisation of sensitive data infrastructure, reinforcing the kingdom's drive to establish itself as a key digital hub for Africa. The announcement positions the Dakhla centre as a state-owned flagship in Morocco's broader digital modernisation strategy, which allocates 11 billion dirhams toward digital transformation through to 2026. While specifics on project costs and timeline remain undisclosed, its scale highlights the government's commitment to both digital sovereignty and green energy adoption. ADVERTISEMENT This initiative builds on recent developments. Earlier this year, Morocco launched its inaugural sovereign data centre at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Operational since January, the centre provides cloud hosting for public and private entities, signalling the start of a national network designed to keep critical data within Moroccan jurisdiction. El Fallah Seghrouchni emphasised that through this network of data centres, 'the kingdom not only asserts its digital sovereignty, but also its ambition to become a regional digital hub serving Africa.' That ambition is being underpinned by Morocco's renewable energy investments and expertise in wind and solar technologies, which have already positioned it as a continental leader in clean power production. Analysts note that Morocco's energy transition efforts, driven by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, have delivered substantial capacity. As of 2022, wind generated 13.5 percent of the country's electricity, and solar parks built under the Noor project have substantially expanded solar output. Dakhla itself benefits from favourable wind patterns, averaging 7–8.5 m/s, making it ideal for renewables-powered infrastructure. Morocco is among a growing number of countries prioritising sovereign or hybrid cloud strategies to store and process data domestically. This trend stems from concerns over data privacy, legal control, and cybersecurity. Similar efforts include Rwanda's AI‑assisted cloud triage in healthcare and Singapore's G‑Cloud, both cited by the World Bank as successful models. Under its 'Digital Morocco 2030' roadmap, the kingdom intends not only to develop sovereign cloud infrastructure but also to enhance artificial intelligence capabilities and expand fibre optic networks across the country. The Dakhla centre is expected to contribute significantly to this vision by offering a large-scale, sustainable backbone for digital services. ADVERTISEMENT Despite the scale of the project, several key questions remain unanswered. Neither timeline nor financial details related to construction have been provided. Similarly, there is no official announcement yet regarding the participation of international or private partners in its design or operation. The absence of clarity on whether the facility will be powered by solar, wind, or a hybrid mix also leaves procedural and technical details unconfirmed. However, the government's prior success in rolling out renewable energy schemes and building the existing data centre suggests that it possesses the institutional capacity and expertise to deliver on these green infrastructure plans. Experts say that such a green-powered data centre, given its unprecedented capacity in the region, could set a benchmark for sustainable digital infrastructure across Africa. It aligns with global technological, regulatory, and environmental trends, ranging from carbon footprint reduction to strategic digital sovereignty. The project also carries geopolitical significance. Situated in Western Sahara, Dakhla's development may influence strategic narratives concerning the region and Morocco's broader international positioning, though El Fallah Seghrouchni's remarks focused exclusively on digital ambitions. Domestic actors in cloud services, telecommunications, and green-tech sectors are expected to watch developments closely. The Dakhla centre could foster private‑sector engagement and public‑private partnerships. It might also accelerate demand for skilled professionals in areas such as data centre management, cloud architecture, renewable energy engineering, and AI systems administration. As implementation unfolds, industry analysts will look for details on construction firms, technology vendors, projected employment figures, and grid integration strategies. The modular design of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic facility could serve as a template. Its operational data in energy efficiency, utilisation rates, and uptime might offer valuable insights for scaling up. Dakhla's data centre could prove pivotal in enhancing regional digital resilience. Morocco's strategic location connecting Europe and sub‑Saharan Africa makes it both an ideal point for cross‑continental data transit and a node in broader geopolitical efforts to diversify digital infrastructure. The kingdom's continued investment in renewable energy and digital infrastructure positions it at the forefront of sustainable technological advancement on the continent. The forthcoming data centre in Dakhla is poised to be a landmark project in Morocco's efforts to promote green digital sovereignty.
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Capgemini, Ministry of Digital Transition Boost Digital Skills Partnership
Doha – Capgemini Morocco welcomed Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni to their Casablanca headquarters today, with the visit centering on implementing the 'Morocco Digital 2030' national strategy. The meeting reinforced the shared vision between the government and Capgemini Morocco. Both parties aim to enhance collaboration for youth employability through digital skills development. Capgemini Morocco, a subsidiary of a global leader, has established itself as a key digital player in Morocco. The company operates in several regions across Morocco and actively promotes professional integration, continuous training, and career transitions to future-oriented jobs. During the visit, Minister El Fallah Seghrouchni met with Badra Hamdaoua, Managing Director of Capgemini Morocco. She also spoke with management members and beneficiaries of training programs. Discussions focused on human capital challenges in a constantly evolving sector and concrete solutions to anticipate labor market changes. 'At the Ministry of Digital Transition, we believe Morocco's digital future depends largely on talent development,' stated El Fallah Seghrouchni. 'Following the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, we will transform the country into a continental technology hub.' 'What we see here at Capgemini confirms that public-private partnerships accelerate the emergence of skills adapted to future challenges,' she added. Capgemini positions itself as a privileged partner of JobInTech, a digital training and integration program. The Ministry of Digital Transition supports this initiative in partnership with CDG, operated by Maroc Numeric Cluster. The program enables recent graduates or professionals changing careers to quickly acquire skills in promising fields. These include Web development, Cybersecurity, Data, and Artificial Intelligence. Through immersive teaching methods and strong institutional partnerships, these programs lead to genuine employment opportunities. Digital technology as a driver of social transformation Capgemini contributes primarily by recruiting JobInTech talents, co-developing customized training programs, and implementing initiatives with learners that explain the benefits of using AI in business. This commitment also translates into concrete actions promoting diversity. These include supporting women's participation in technology professions and giving visibility to talents from underrepresented territories 'We firmly believe digital technology can be a tremendous driver of social transformation. Alongside the Ministry, we are proud to actively contribute to developing Moroccan human capital in tech,' said Badra Hamdaoua. The meeting initiated discussions about a partnership with Capgemini to promote women's empowerment in IT. This would involve a mentoring program in collaboration with women leaders from the company. The initiative is currently in preparation for a planned launch in March 2026. The discussions identified several areas for enhanced collaboration. These include co-developing educational content, deploying specialized training across different regions of Morocco, and synergizing public and private ecosystems to create more pathways to employment. This meeting reflects a mutual desire to structure a sustainable partnership between public and private sectors. The goal is to make digital technology a lever for inclusion and progress serving all generations of Moroccans.
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Leads Arab World in Official Holidays
Doha – Morocco ranks among the most generous Arab countries when it comes to official holidays, with 17 days of paid leave annually in the public sector, outpacing other countries in the Maghreb and Middle East region. In a written response to a parliamentary question from the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, revealed that Morocco observes 17 official holidays per year. 'Morocco has a satisfactory number of official holidays during which work is suspended, with 17 days compared to 13 days in Egypt, 9 days in Algeria, and 15 days in Tunisia,' El Fallah Seghrouchni stated. These official holidays are governed by Decree No. 2.77.169 dated February 28, 1977, which established the framework for religious and national holidays in public administrations and institutions. Read also: Schools Across Morocco Urged to Continue Classes After Eid Al Adha Holidays The private sector, meanwhile, benefits from 13 official paid holidays according to Decree No. 2.04.426 issued in December 2004, which regulates paid holidays in industrial, commercial, professional, agricultural, and forestry enterprises. 'Several private institutions adopt the same number of holidays as the public sector,' the minister noted. Regarding religious holidays specifically, El Fallah Seghrouchni pointed out that Eid al-Adha celebrations in various Muslim countries range between one and three days, similar to Morocco's practice. Any potential revision of holiday regulations would require comprehensive stakeholder involvement, according to the minister. 'Studying the possibility of revising the decrees regulating official and religious holidays requires involving all public and private sector stakeholders to address the issue from various economic and social perspectives,' she explained. The minister also mentioned that Moroccan legislation provides for exceptional leave allowances. 'The Moroccan legislator has established, alongside the administrative leave system, exceptional leave or permission to be absent, granted to employees who provide family justifications or exceptional reasons, not exceeding ten days per year,' she elaborated. 'This system of leaves collectively aims to ensure decent working conditions for employees on one hand, and guarantee the continuity of public services on the other.' She further noted that Article 3 of Decree No. 2.05.916 issued in July 2005, which determines working days and hours in state and territorial administrations, allows for exceptional work stoppages by decision of the Head of Government. On several occasions, such as during Eid al-Fitr, work has been suspended exceptionally to facilitate citizen travel and reduce traffic congestion on various national road networks coinciding with these religious occasions. Tags: Amal El Fallah SeghrouchniOfficial holidays
