Morocco and EU launch three projects to boost creative industries

Three new projects aimed at supporting the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) were signed on Tuesday in Rabat between Morocco and the European Union, with the goal of «strengthening the CCI ecosystem as a driver of economic development and social integration for young people».

The agreements were signed during a ceremony chaired by Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU ambassador to the kingdom. The projects were concluded with Africalia, Goethe-Institut and the Hiba Foundation.

According to a statement from the EU Delegation, the projects, selected through a call for proposals, will «directly support young Moroccan creators by helping accelerate entrepreneurial projects, encouraging co-creation with European partners, and improving access to information for project development».

The first project, «IQLAA, your cultural accelerator», is led by Africalia in partnership with the Hiba Foundation and the French Institute. The second, «Hi-Fenn: connect, create, resonate», is led by the Goethe-Institut, the Ali Zaoua Foundation and Wallonie-Bruxelles International. It aims to promote «exchanges between Moroccan and European creative ecosystems» through «co-creation, the sharing of expertise and the emergence of concrete collaborations».

The third project, «Creative Morocco Gate», is led by the Hiba Foundation in partnership with the Association of Independent Radio and Television Stations (ARTI).

In a statement, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid said the initiative forms part of the royal vision for «sustainable and inclusive national emergence, placing CCIs at the heart of our ambition». «The CCI ecosystem, in particular, is destined to become one of the pillars of our economy in the coming years», he stressed.

For his part, Dimiter Tzantchev noted that CCIs are «a sector that drives innovation, jobs and opportunities for young people» in both Morocco and Europe.