Tangier: Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI, has made the strategic choice to place innovation at the heart of its development model, Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah said on Thursday in Tangier. Speaking at the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM 2026), held as part of the 58th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Fettah highlighted Morocco’s ongoing economic transformation process, driven by technology and innovation.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Fettah noted that the Kingdom has made significant investments in digital infrastructure and launched ambitious strategies aimed at accelerating digital transformation. These efforts focus on expanding access to high-speed internet, developing e-government services, strengthening digital skills, and creating employment opportunities for youth, while fostering the emergence of dynamic digital ecosystems. The objective, she added, is to position Morocco as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
At the continental level, the minister reaffirmed that Morocco views its future as closely tied to that of Africa. In line with royal directives, the Kingdom has for years pursued an African cooperation policy based on solidarity, partnership, and shared development. Fettah stressed that national approaches alone are no longer sufficient to address the major challenges posed by ongoing economic and societal transformations. Enhanced continental cooperation, she said, would significantly contribute to achieving shared ambitions and unlocking the full potential of technology and innovation.
She further emphasized that stronger African integration could enable countries to pool investments, share resources, exchange expertise and best practices, coordinate systems, and build larger, more interconnected markets. In this regard, she called on African financial institutions to evolve from a primary role of mobilizing funding to one of providing strategic support and fostering sustainable, inclusive, and efficient environments.
The minister also underlined the relevance of the theme of the 58th session, ‘Growth through Innovation,’ noting that innovation has become a key driver of productivity, while the integration of advanced technologies is increasingly shaping economic power and geopolitical influence. The conference began with the meeting of the Committee of Experts (March 28 to 30), followed by side events on March 31 and April 1, ahead of the ministerial segment taking place on April 2 and 3.
Throughout the conference, ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners are examining how advanced technologies (including AI, digital public infrastructure, and advanced data systems) can boost productivity, support economic diversification, and drive structural transformation across African economies. The discussions are expected to result in ministerial recommendations on digital sovereignty, data governance, innovation-led growth, and investment in digital and energy infrastructure.