
Morocco Hosts International Conference to Rethink Finance and Innovation
The two-day event, running from April 23 to 24, is co-organised by the Private University of Fez and Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University. It brings together finance professors, digital experts, and young researchers to discuss issues ranging from fintech to climate change and finance.
Safae Ismaili, a lecturer and researcher specialising in finance, frames the conference as a response to Morocco's evolving economic landscape. 'MIF 2025 is a platform for dialogue, critical thinking, and collective construction around the major economic challenges of our time,' she told Morocco World News (MWN). Safae Ismaili, a lecturer and researcher specialising in finance
She stressed the need to bridge theory and practice, explaining: 'The ambition behind this conference is quite clear: to create a genuine link between academic research and real-world application, between universities and businesses, between ideas and concrete action. Because yes, it's good to think—but it's better to think to transform.'
Read also: Entrepreneurial Growth in Morocco: A Decade After the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Pascal Nguyen, a professor of finance at the University of Montpellier and one of the event's keynote speakers, echoed that sentiment. 'I'm genuinely impressed by the quality of the organisation and the calibre of the speakers I've heard this morning. There's an abundance of highly qualified young people… I feel Morocco has a very bright future,' he told MWN.
Nguyen, who also co-leads a programme on green finance, spoke about the dangers of corporate short-sightedness. 'The question is: why do firms often make the wrong choices? Why do they pursue investments and decisions that are unsustainable and trigger crises—whether social, financial, or economic?'
The event aimed to tackle such questions head-on, with panels exploring everything from digital transformation to low-carbon policy.
As Morocco pushes to bring its economy up to date and attract green investment, MIF 2025 may prove a timely meeting of minds. 'Morocco is in motion,' said Dr Ismaili. Tags: economyfinanceInnovationMoroccoPrivate University of Fez
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Morocco World
3 days ago
- Morocco World
Is Morocco Becoming Europe's Backyard? Engineers Earn €1,500 vs €6,500
Marrakech – Morocco's Industry and Trade Minister, Ryad Mezzour, sparked controversy in mid-July when he presented the significant wage gap between Moroccan and European engineers as a strategic advantage during an official meeting at the German ambassador's residence in Rabat. Mezzour revealed that the same highly skilled Moroccan engineer who would cost a company in Germany about €6,500 monthly can be hired in Morocco for just €1,000 to €1,500. The minister described this stark disparity as an opportunity for foreign companies while suggesting engineers would be 'much happier' living in their home country with these wages. 'An engineer who graduates with distinction and goes to work in Munich will cost the company about €6,500 per month between salary and social contributions,' Mezzour stated. He added that the same engineer could be employed in Morocco for between €1,000 and €1,500 for identical work, expressing his belief that 'the engineer will live much happier in his country with a salary that allows him to own an apartment and start a family life.' Human outsourcing Economic analysts told Morocco World News (MWN) that this wage gap raises fundamental questions about the country's development strategy and its role in global value chains. Rather than developing technology or products, Morocco appears to be positioning itself as an exporter of affordable brainpower for multinational companies. While official discourse frames this as 'providing solutions,' critics view it as a form of human outsourcing. The minister also acknowledged that Morocco's economy cannot currently absorb all its trained talent, pushing many skilled Moroccans to seek opportunities abroad. Instead of rethinking the development model to retain these professionals, the government has doubled the number of medical graduates and increased engineering graduates tenfold to produce more exportable talent. 'We used to train 1,500 doctors annually, but 800 of them were recruited each year, especially to Germany,' Mezzour said, continuing that German universities would recruit entire classes of engineers before graduation. Mezzour described these young graduates as 'hungry' to integrate into life and create a future for themselves, insisting they represent 'a tremendous force for those who deal with them respectfully and within a balanced partnership framework that ensures contribution to their valorization within Morocco.' Beyond 'cheaper is better' for sustainable growth Mohammed Afzaz, a Qatar-based Moroccan economic analyst, told MWN that betting solely on the wage gap to attract foreign investment may backfire for the kingdom in the long run. 'Morocco's bet on the 'cheaper is better' principle to attract foreign investments may not be the most suitable wager for the kingdom amid strong competition from other Arab and Asian countries that adopt the same strategy,' Afzaz explained. He cited Vietnam and Bangladesh as countries that tried this model before concluding they needed to support innovation rather than simply being open territory for mobile capital. For Morocco to retain its high-caliber talent, Afzaz suggested a five-point strategy: achieving fair wages with growth guarantees, enabling continuous training opportunities at home and abroad, investing heavily in research and development, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship rather than turning engineers into 'stagnant employees and numbers among other numbers,' and providing social and health protection for professionals and their families. 'Morocco in this critical period of its rising development project needs its competencies to play a central role in leading the desired economic takeoff,' Afzaz stressed, though he acknowledged that preventing talent migration entirely would be impossible given global market demands. Afzaz pointed out that the global context presents unique challenges, adding: 'Trump's ongoing trade wars' and persistently 'high inflation levels no longer exempt any country in the world.' He warned that 'if wages do not move to keep pace with rising prices, purchasing power gradually declines.' Cultural factors offset wage disparities Contributing to the discussion, economist and Director of the Government Work Observatory Mohammed Jadri spoke to MWN about several structural factors he believes help explain why the wage gap hasn't triggered a full-blown talent exodus. 'The lifestyle and cultural attachment: A significant portion of Moroccan engineers prioritize family stability, cultural proximity, and quality of life that the country can offer, especially in major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, or Tangier,' Jadri said. He pointed to growing local opportunities thanks to industrial strategies launched since 2014, the relatively lower cost of living, and government policies encouraging training and professional integration as factors helping Morocco maintain its talent pool. Jadri specifically mentioned the Industrial Acceleration Plan launched in 2014 and continued by the current ministry, which has created interesting prospects in several sectors, including 'automotive, aeronautics, electronics, and offshoring' that offer career advancement and specialization opportunities. He also underlined the role of government training initiatives through OFPPT (Office of Professional Training and Work Promotion), the Cités des Métiers et des Compétences (CMC), and ANAPEC employment contracts in structuring a skills pipeline aligned with industrial needs, which strengthens local employability. Jadri characterized the wage gap not as social dumping but as an acknowledged comparative advantage in Morocco's strategy. 'Morocco positions itself as an intermediate alternative between low-cost countries like Bangladesh or Ethiopia and European countries. For multinationals, it's an opportunity to optimize costs without compromising quality,' he stated. 'Morocco does not practice a race to the bottom,' Jadri insisted. 'The minimum wage (SMIG) is regularly revalued, collective agreements are developing in certain industrial zones, and mechanisms for social dialogue exist.' Looking forward, Jadri argued this cost differential is only sustainable if accompanied by structural transformation of Morocco's industrial fabric. 'The simple cost advantage will eventually erode with rising social and wage demands,' he went on to say. 'It is therefore necessary to invest in continuing education and technical and scientific fields, promote R&D partnerships between industrialists and Moroccan research centers, strengthen the ecosystem of industrial and deep tech startups, and integrate global value chains at a higher level,' he concluded. International integration will drive wage growth Offering a critical perspective, economist and researcher at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Zakaria Firano explained to MWN that Morocco's current level of human capital remains average by global standards, leaving substantial room for improvement. 'Morocco is situated in terms of human capital in the world average, according to the World Bank index, at a level of 0.5 to 0.55, which means that the qualification of Moroccan human capital remains average compared to different countries of the world,' Firano observed. This moderate productivity level partly explains the salary gap with European counterparts. Firano provided concrete examples to illustrate this point: 'We are in the industrial sector always at a level of contribution to added value to gross domestic products around 28% to 29%.' For him, 'this means that any improvement in human capital in the medium and long term will allow the industrial sector to reach the objective we want, which is to reach more than 40% of added value, not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality and also in terms of quality competitiveness internationally.' Firano linked the salary differential to productivity gaps, remarking that 'in European and developed countries, [highly qualified human capital] remains a bit more important than what we find here in Morocco.' To reduce this gap, he argued Morocco must raise both the level of human capital and its contribution to added value, especially in industrial and service sectors. Comparing minimum wages across countries, Firano stated: 'If we take a minimum wage, we will simply compare it with Spain, it's around 300 euros in Morocco compared to more than 1,084 in Spain,' adding that the minimum found in countries with relatively low minimum wages in Europe, 'like Croatia, Poland, etc., is double, triple what we find, triple the minimum wage in Morocco.' On the sustainability question, Firano gave a firm 'probably not' to whether the wage differential can persist long-term. 'We cannot have a certain sustainability through salary attractiveness if we are in an economy that is beginning to integrate internationally,' he stated. With Morocco's international integration level around 65% and continuing to open up, prices will increasingly align with international levels. 'The obligation to converge with new international professions in technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence will require increased qualification and human capital,' Firano added. This human capital improvement will generate higher added value and productivity, inevitably leading to higher wages. Young talents seek fulfillment beyond salary Weighing in on the debate, economist and academic Mohammed Chiguer shared with MWN that salary isn't the decisive factor behind brain drain decisions, and put it bluntly: 'Moroccans flee their country, but French people also flee their countries.' 'I believe that the minister's statement is simply to support the movement observed for some time, the return of Moroccan talents who even resided in France,' Chiguer said. He pointed to many Moroccan professionals born and educated in France who have chosen to settle in Morocco, with Casablanca serving as a vital platform for those wishing to work with Africa. Chiguer placed the situation in its international context, particularly considering Europe's employment challenges. 'France is experiencing problems in this area. In fact, the unemployment rate for graduates is beginning to worry them,' he asserted. According to Chiguer, young talents seek self-fulfillment through multiple channels. 'The main reason for brain drain or the return of brains is that young people seek to realize themselves not only through a more or less high salary but also through other conditions,' he clarified, referencing Morocco's efforts to establish itself as a true African hub. 'It's a question that really needs to be placed in its context and take into consideration the international situation, take into consideration the situation in Europe in particular and in France more particularly,' Chiguer concluded. Read also: Morocco's Auto Labor Cost: Just $106 Per Vehicle Tags: Moroccan EngineersRyad Mezzourwages


Morocco World
18-07-2025
- Morocco World
Huawei, Moroccan Government Close National Hackathon for Civil Society Digitalization
Marrakech – The National Hackathon for civil society digitalization concluded Friday at Rabat's National Training and Meetings Center, marking the end of a three-day event focused on advancing digital transformation among civil society organizations across Morocco. Organized by Huawei Morocco in partnership with the Ministry Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Relations with Parliament, the event brought together 45 associations from all regions of the country. The initiative aimed to support the digital transformation of civil society organizations through concrete technological projects developed with assistance from technical mentors and Huawei experts. Minister Delegate Mustapha Baitas delivered remarks at the closing ceremony, followed by a speech from Jason Chen, Vice-President of Huawei Morocco. The ceremony also included the announcement of winners, certificate distribution, and a press opportunity. The Tawada Association for Development and Culture from Tounfite in Midelt Province secured first place in the competition. 'After a very intense competition, we were able to win first place at this national event,' Ali Ait Errouh, President of Tawada Association, told Morocco World News (MWN). Ait Errouh explained that his association's winning project, titled 'Warmlink,' targets residents of rural areas, villages, and mountain communities. 'We earned this top ranking with merit, and the project we presented is a promising initiative through which the association will establish a digital platform based on volunteerism,' he said. The Association of Ighata took second place with their project focused on creating a digital platform for people with special needs. 'Our project focused on people with special needs. We aim to create a digital platform specifically for them, which would serve as a comprehensive database,' Houcine Aboubakr, president of the Association of Ighata, told MWN. Aboubakr pointed out the critical need for such a platform, noting that people with special needs currently face serious challenges in the digital space. 'Our first goal with this platform is to create a digital profile for each person, including their name, type of disability, and GPS location,' he explained. The platform will also identify specific needs, whether related to mobility, psychological support, or intellectual challenges, and include information about education and health status, including health insurance coverage. 'We observed that most people with special needs still have to pay out of pocket for healthcare, even though there are programs like AMO and others available. Our goal is to address these gaps through this digital platform,' Aboubakr added. The hackathon, which ran for three days, stressed the growing importance of digital solutions for civil society organizations in their future projects. Tags: digitalization in MoroccoHuawei Morocco


Morocco World
05-07-2025
- Morocco World
UPF Opens Applications for 2025 Dental Medicine Program with New Scholarships
Rabat — The Private University of Fez (UPF) has announced the opening of applications for its 2025–2026 entrance exam to the Faculty of Dental Medicine. The competitive exam is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, at 9 a.m., and will take place simultaneously on UPF's two campuses in Fez and Rabat. The exam is open to candidates holding a scientific baccalaureate or equivalent, with a minimum calculated grade of 12/20. Registration can be completed online or in person at either campus, subject to available slots. UPF noted that candidates admitted through this exam who later secure admission to a public dental faculty and complete their registration there will be eligible for a full refund of fees paid to UPF. This measure is intended to ease access to higher education for aspiring dental professionals. For the 2025–2026 academic year, UPF is also introducing a special scholarship program to support outstanding students and assist families in financing their educational projects. Details on eligibility and application procedures will be provided during the registration process. UPF highlighted that its Faculty of Dental Medicine offers a rigorous academic program combining advanced clinical practice, cutting-edge technology, and personalized educational support. The results of the entrance exam will be announced on the same day, and admitted students will be able to begin registration immediately following the announcement. The Private University of Fez (UPF) holds the distinction of being the first private university in Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital to earn official state recognition. Established in 2006, the university has grown into a leading institution with seven independent schools offering more than 45 programs across a wide range of disciplines. Additionally, it recently received American accreditation with a new dual-degree program with Arizona State University (ASU). Tags: medical studentsMorocco UPFUPF Fes