Latest news with #YounesSekkouri
Morocco World
24-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Smart City Morocco: A Roadmap for Resilient, Inclusive, and Tech-Driven African Cities
Marrakech – From May 21 to 23, Morocco hosted Smart City Morocco RoadShow & Expo 2025/2030, a pivotal event in the journey toward smart, sustainable urban development. Jointly organized by Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P), Casa Events & Animation, and the FIWARE Foundation, the initiative marked a dynamic convergence of innovation, research, and collaboration, driving forward the transformation of Moroccan and African cities. Held across Casablanca, Rabat, and Benguerir, this mobile forum served as a platform for cross-sector dialogue, technological demonstration, and inclusive policymaking. In alignment with the aspirations of King Mohammed VI, the event embraced the vision of resilient, connected, and equitable urban environments, all while preparing for the global spotlight of the FIFA World Cup 2030, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The RoadShow kicked off in Casablanca with the 9th edition of Casablanca Smart City, themed 'Smart NexGen Cities: Innover pour une métropole durable et inclusive.' Reinforcing Morocco's role as a continental hub for smart city innovation This edition spotlighted smart mobility, large-scale infrastructure management, and civic participation. Two standout initiatives — the Casablanca Smart City Hackathon and the Village des Startups — provided fertile ground for entrepreneurs, developers, and innovators to propose and showcase solutions aimed at enhancing urban life. Rabat took center stage for the FIWARE Global Summit, hosted for the first time outside the European Union. Taking place on UM6P's Rabat campus, this segment welcomed tech leaders from companies such as Telefonica, AWS, NEC, Mitsubishi Electronics, Red Hat, and Libelium, alongside international delegations. Discussions focused on Open Source standards, digital interoperability, cybersecurity, and AI applications in public governance, reinforcing Morocco's role as a continental hub for smart city innovation. The RoadShow culminated in Benguerir with the African Smart Cities Forum, a gathering of policymakers, academics, and urban practitioners. The forum addressed structural transformation, youth employability, public-private-citizen investment models, and digital equity. Welcoming participants to the final stage, the President of UM6P delivered a forward-looking keynote, encapsulating the event's vision. 'This Roadshow was conceived as a space for d He highlighted UM6P's role as a bridge between scientific research and societal impact, underlining the importance of projects like the Digital Twin Smart Campus @UM6P, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, Dell, and Akila. Need for bottom-up collaboration In a significant policy-oriented intervention during the closing ceremony in Benguerir, Younes Sekkouri, Morocco's Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, called for smart cities to become a national and local governance priority. He emphasized the importance of bottom-up collaboration involving NGOs, corporations, startups, and institutions, noting that integrating smart city strategies into formal policy frameworks is crucial for unlocking long-term resources and impact. As Morocco prepares to introduce a new labor code supporting remote work and flexible employment, the Minister positioned smart cities as critical enablers of a more adaptive and inclusive labor ecosystem. The Smart City Morocco RoadShow & Expo 2025/2030 embodied a powerful message: the future of African cities must be co-created through inclusive governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and grounded technological innovation. With institutions like UM6P and committed policymakers like Minister Sekkouri at the helm, Morocco is not just preparing for global events; it is laying the foundation for a new, citizen-centered urban era. Tags: Benguerir MoroccoSmart citiesd UM6P
Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
New VSEs Support Program to Benefit 110,000 Small Businesses in Morocco
Doha – Morocco's government will soon launch a new program dedicated to supporting very small enterprises (VSEs). The announcement came Thursday in Casablanca from Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills. 'This new mechanism aims to support VSEs across multiple areas, such as rent, accounting, or the acquisition of professional equipment, with a target of 110,000 beneficiaries,' Sekkouri stated. The minister was speaking at the first edition of the MSMEs (Very Small and Medium Enterprises) Forum organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). The event was themed 'Inspire to Transform.' The program will focus on financing operating expenses for VSEs, self-entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs under the CPU regime. With a budget of MAD 1 billion ($100 million), the initiative will be implemented in the coming weeks. Sekkouri stressed the need to strengthen leadership mechanisms, mediation, and information flow for TPMEs. He noted that some small businesses still face inappropriate responses from banking institutions due to a lack of understanding of their specific characteristics. The minister advocated for a more efficient and responsive guarantee system. This system would quickly detect difficulties and provide committed solutions. On financing, Sekkouri acknowledged that despite state guarantee mechanisms, many young entrepreneurs still encounter obstacles to access. A joint commission with the Ministry of Economy and Finance has been established to engage in in-depth consultation with banks. Addressing administrative simplification, the minister flagged the urgency of reforming the commercial and administrative authorization system. He called it a brake on TPME development. Sekkouri pushed for a transition to a model based on specifications, describing it as 'more flexible and better adapted to economic reality.' This strategic project is already underway, coordinating with several work teams to unleash entrepreneurial potential, particularly among young people. Read also: Morocco Records 78,244 New Businesses in First 10 Months of 2024 The minister also revealed that a comprehensive overhaul of the National Agency for Employment and Skills Promotion (ANAPEC) programs is underway. This particularly targets young people without diplomas. Regarding the new Labor Code, Sekkouri affirmed it will be finalized by year-end following a pragmatic approach in consultation with various social partners. 'This new code will, for the first time, regulate remote work and part-time work, opening new professional opportunities,' he emphasized. The TPME Forum featured inspiring testimonials from business leaders and a panel of entrepreneurs from various sectors. They discussed real-world challenges: launch stages, daily obstacles, financing needs, team management, and digital transition. The event also included two masterclasses. One centered around financing problems faced by TPMEs and available market solutions. The other provided tools for small businesses to respond to artificial intelligence challenges and seize opportunities. Through this first edition of the MSMEs Forum, CGEM reaffirmed its commitment to making small businesses a central lever for wealth and job creation. MSMEs represent 95% of CGEM members across Morocco. Tags: MSMEsSmall businesses in moroccoYounes Sekkouri
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Plans to Regulate Remote Work in Upcoming Labor Code Reform
Rabat – The Moroccan government will soon introduce specific regulations for remote work in the country's Labor Code, with the reform expected to take place in September or October. Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, made the announcement on Wednesday during a conference on employment in the age of AI in Casablanca. The employment landscape has witnessed significant changes in recent years, including in Morocco, with work-from-home gaining popularity. This shift became especially prominent after the COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed a global lockdown that lasted several months. During that period, many companies transitioned to online operations and managed to function efficiently. With that, remote work became more widespread, as companies realized that being physically present in the office was not always necessary. During the event, Sekkouri spoke about ongoing changes in the employment landscape, including AI. He said that Morocco should not focus on AI as a problem for employment, but instead include it in a strategic vision that fits the country's unique situation and potential. The minister also called for a deep reform of the professional training system. He announced the upcoming launch of an AI-based observatory that will support young job seekers. This platform will include digital coaches to help young people improve their CVs and better understand the labor market. In addition, Sekkouri spoke about a new service line for employers to help them easily find available talent. He also mentioned a shift from focusing only on academic degrees to giving more importance to professional certifications. Sekkouri underlined the importance of working closely with the private sector and involving professionals directly in the design of training programs. He also encouraged the growth of local startups and national champions who can show that value can be created in Morocco in the age of AI. Tags: Employmentremote workwork
Morocco World
06-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Revamps Employment Strategy with Dual Focus Approach
Rabat — Morocco's Minister of Economic Inclusion, Younes Sekkouri, has unveiled a comprehensive new employment strategy that marks a significant shift from previous policies. New employment roadmap targets both supply and demand Sekkouri announced the plan during the oral question session on employment policy in the House of Representatives. He explained that while previous approaches primarily focused on job seeker training, the new roadmap addresses both sides of the labor equation. The government's new vision expands beyond preparing job seekers to include creating more employment opportunities across productive sectors. Inter-ministerial oversight strengthens accountability To ensure effective implementation of the new employment strategy, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to monitoring job creation across all sectors. This new oversight mechanism introduces unprecedented accountability. Sekkouri noted that every sector now faces specific employment targets and will be held responsible for job losses within their domain, pointing to the government's commitment to measurable results. Major financial support packages for businesses Also, the minister spoke of the financial support that the government is allocating to the implementation of this new employment strategy. MAD 15 billion for SME investment To support small and medium businesses (SME), the government has allocated a budget of MAD 15 billion ($1.62 million). A special decree indicates, according to Sekkouri, that this funding targets investments between MAD 1 and 50 million (between $108,375 and 5.41 million). For these SME to receive the financial support, the government has set a critical condition they should meet, which is being able to create quality jobs within the Moroccan economy. Expanded support for micro-entrepreneurs Over 110,000 very small businesses and auto-entrepreneurs will benefit from a tailored support program. Unlike previous initiatives that focused solely on major capital expenditures, this program covers operational costs, including equipment rental, employee wages, and essential equipment purchases Enhancing job seeker integration programs Professional apprenticeship expansion The government aims to quadruple the number of professional apprenticeships, increasing beneficiaries from 24,000 to 100,000. The minister announced that this initiative comes with MAD 500 million in financial backing. ANAPEC reform to target vulnerable groups Morocco's Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills is undergoing a comprehensive reform to better serve job seekers who do not hold academic qualifications. Sekkouri recalled the findings of the Higher Commission for Planning's (HCP) recent report, which identified 910,000 unemployed individuals without certifications, adding that the government has developed specialized programs for this vulnerable group. Morocco's recent employment data According to a recent report from HCP, Morocco's unemployment rate has seen a slight decrease in the first quarter of 2025, moving from 13.7% to 13.3%. The Moroccan economy created 282,000 jobs during this period, making a significant turnaround from losing 80,000 positions last year. Data in the HCP's report signals that the North African country is moving with its economic recovery and job market resilience. Tags: Employmentemployment in Moroccojobs in Morocco
Maroc
02-05-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Morocco to Raise Average Public Sector Salary to $1,000 By 2026
Morocco's average net public sector salary will rise to MAD 10,100 ($1,000) per month by early 2026, up from MAD 8,237 in 2021, Minister of Economic Inclusion and Employment Younes Sekkouri said on Wednesday. Speaking on Labour Day, Sekkouri said the government had raised the public sector minimum wage from MAD 3,000 to MAD 4,500, in line with Royal directives. He also highlighted major sectoral deals, including a MAD 17 billion package for education, which provided a MAD 1,500 monthly raise for 330,000 staff, and improved allowances for high-performing civil servants. In the health sector, dialogue led to a MAD 3.5 billion program that increased salaries and occupational risk allowances for nurses, administrative staff, and research professors. A special status for scientific attachés granted them a MAD 1,800 salary raise, backdated to January 2023. Sekkouri also pointed to government efforts in social reforms, citing the Royal Project for Universal Social Protection. Direct social assistance has reached 3.9 million families with a MAD 29.4 billion budget projected for 2026, while a housing aid program launched this year has drawn 130,000 applications, including many from Moroccans abroad. MAP: 01 mai 2025
