Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, in Partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, organizes a Forum on Artificial Intelligence

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Nouakchott, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Modernization of Administration, the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation and the Belgian Development Agency, organized on Friday evening in Nouakchott a forum on “Artificial Intelligence as a lever for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa”.

The first part of this scientific forum deals with the contribution of artificial intelligence to entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa, within the framework of the “Link Up Africa” project, a tripartite cooperation program between the Kingdom of Morocco, the European Union and the Belgian Development Agency, which aims to strengthen academic ties between Morocco and African countries.

The forum also aims to celebrate Mauritanian executives and youth who graduated from institutes and universities in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Minister of Digital Transformation and Modernization of Administration, Mr Ahmed Salem Bede Etvagha said that the world today is witnessing an unprecedented revolution in the field of artificial intelligence, a revolution that includes all aspects of life and has spread to various countries, noting that Mauritania is determined to seize this opportunity to move confidently into the future by adopting the latest global technologies and promoting youth entrepreneurship as a key lever to achieve prosperity and sustainable development.

In a related context, the Minister praised Mauritanian graduates of Moroccan universities, schools and institutes for their prominent role in strengthening the ties of brotherhood and friendship between the Mauritanian and Moroccan peoples, as they are a real model of fruitful scientific and cultural exchange, and contribute with their expertise in supporting development and innovation, utilizing the knowledge they have acquired to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

For his part, the Moroccan Ambassador to Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Hamid Chabar, expressed his pleasure at the participation of his country’s embassy in organizing this important scientific forum, which brings together a group of graduates of universities and institutes of the Kingdom of Morocco with experts and specialists in the field of artificial intelligence.

Given the various challenges that Africa faces, AI applications have become an opportunity for its countries and African youth in particular to overcome the obstacles that prevent the realization of comprehensive socio-economic development in Africa, he added, noting that although in the past the African continent missed its appointment with the agricultural and industrial revolutions, today it has no right to fail in the digital revolution and the AI bet.

For her part, Ms. Tarba Mint Amar, President of the Association of Mauritanian Frameworks Graduates of Moroccan Universities, Schools and Institutes, explained that the establishment of the association came in response to the desire of its leaders on the one hand, and in response to the development and acceleration of bilateral relations on the other.

She pointed out that the association seeks to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries by activating the bridge of cooperation, sharing and interaction with scientific and cultural bodies in the Kingdom of Morocco, especially through the portal of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation.

The representative of the European Union Commission in Mauritania, Mr. Pierre Bizez, said that the Link Up Africa program aims to strengthen technical cooperation and academic and economic relations between Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on developing entrepreneurial opportunities for young students and graduates from these countries.

For his part, the representative of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, Mohamed Hicham Faiz, stressed that the organization of this second forum of its kind in Mauritania is in line with the development of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, and in celebration of the distinguished fraternal relations; the Link Up Africa project, which sponsors this forum, embodies the values of solidarity, knowledge exchange and joint development within the framework of the tripartite project between Morocco, the European Union and sub-Saharan Africa.

The opening ceremony was attended by parliamentarians and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Mauritania, as well as Moroccan university graduates, experts and researchers in the field of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.