· Morocco, Mistral AI sign deal to boost local AI expertise

· Partnership targets training, research, and ethical AI adoption

· Strategy aims for 270,000 digital jobs, $4.45B exports by 2030

The Moroccan government has signed a memorandum of understanding with French generative AI company Mistral AI to collaborate on strengthening local expertise in artificial intelligence.

A statement from the Ministry of Digital Transition on Friday, September 12, said the partnership will focus on training, applied research, and knowledge sharing. The agreement "encourages the emergence of startups and industrial projects based on AI solutions tailored to the needs of Moroccan companies. It also promotes an ethical, inclusive, and responsible use of artificial intelligence, ensuring data protection and citizen trust," the statement read.

Under the "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy, the government aims to leverage AI's potential to accelerate the digitalization of public and private services while bolstering the national tech ecosystem and contributing to the digital economy. To achieve these goals, it is focusing on attracting new international AI players, developing local skills, and building robust, adaptable infrastructure to ensure responsible technology use.

During the National AI Conference in July, authorities emphasized that training public and private sector professionals in AI tools is crucial for fully capitalizing on the opportunities these technologies offer. That same month, a tripartite agreement was signed to create a new engineering school focused on digital transition and AI and to launch specialized training programs. The kingdom aims to create 270,000 digital jobs and generate 40 billion dirhams ($4.45 billion) in digital export revenue by 2030, up from 15.8 billion dirhams in 2022.

Isaac K. Kassouwi