AGP Executive Report

Digital Tax Rollout: Global platforms including TikTok, Apple, Google, OpenAI and Spotify have started applying Morocco’s 20% VAT to eligible digital services, with invoices and pricing now reflecting the new collection mechanism. Defense & Tech Cooperation: Morocco and India launched an inaugural Joint Defense Committee in New Delhi, covering training, cyber defense, medical cooperation and defense industry collaboration, including local production of Tata WhAP 8×8 vehicles. Industrial Software for Morocco: Siemens and Redington will bring Siemens Xcelerator tools (PLM, design and simulation) to Morocco and other African markets, aiming to speed digital transformation via digital twin and Industrial AI. Port Modernization: Nador West Med’s East Terminal entered service after successful tests, ready for first commercial calls and designed to handle large container ships. Rail Security Upgrade: ONCF is tendering a 2030 master plan to expand video surveillance to ~6,000 cameras, with about 1,800 using automated AI analysis. Manufacturing Investment: Chinese Wuxi Xin Hongye and France’s Acome will invest in a Tangier automotive cable plant, forming a joint venture to supply EV and industrial cable needs. Election Tech & Policy: Morocco’s legislative campaign kicked off with 27 parties competing for 395 seats, as youth unemployment and regional inequality stay central. Health System Partnership: Morocco and the EU closed PASS III, with both sides pointing to a next phase focused on digital health data governance and pharmaceutical sovereignty.

AI in Rail Security: ONCF has launched a tender for a 2030 national video-surveillance master plan, aiming for about 6,000 cameras and AI-assisted analytics (around 1,800 units) to monitor stations, congestion and movements, with a MAD 1.08m study. Extreme Heat Adaptation: Morocco is rolling out a new strategy to fight extreme heat by redesigning urban road surfaces to reduce overheating, moving beyond indoor-only cooling. EV Supply Chain Shift: China’s electric two- and three-wheeler imports to Africa jumped 60% in H1 2026, with Morocco leading North Africa (80,188 units worth $21.7m), reflecting different EV use cases across regions. Election Tech & Policy Pressure: Morocco’s legislative campaign kicks off with 27 parties competing for 395 seats, as wealth gaps and youth unemployment—amplified by the Ceuta migration crisis—shape the debate. Education Outcomes: The Education Ministry defends Morocco’s PISA 2025 decline, arguing results reflect gaps from the previous model and backing expansion of Pioneer Schools. Biotech Outreach: Sanofi and USA Pickleball launch “Serve Up Protection” to promote COVID-19 prevention for older adults, highlighting its protein-based NUVAXOVID vaccine. Local Innovation Spotlight: Givaudan opens a Casablanca development centre with perfumery labs to speed fragrance innovation for Maghreb and West Africa. Digital Connectivity: eSIM adoption is accelerating for African travellers and businesses, changing how mobile data is sold and activated across borders. Archaeology: Excavations at Oued Beht (Khémisset) found the first clear Bronze Age construction evidence, extending the site’s timeline into the early-to-middle second millennium B.C.

Conservation Agriculture & Soil Health: INRA met Australia’s ACIAR and the University of Queensland to plan a new conservation agriculture project focused on soil health, resilience, and climate-smart farming in line with Morocco’s Génération Green strategy. Synthetic Fuels Push: Swiss Synhelion signed an MoU with Morocco for a $1B, 100,000-ton renewable synthetic fuel plant in Tan-Tan, aiming to scale sun-to-liquid fuels for aviation, road, and marine use. Defense Tech & Production: Covenant unveiled its “Anthem” long-range cruise missile and plans mass production (with a German facility ramping to thousands annually), while reporting also links Morocco to missile-related testing activity. Maritime Security: Morocco’s Royal Navy joined the multinational Exercise Phoenix Express-2026 in Tunisia, focused on detecting and deterring illegal activity in the southern Mediterranean. Ancient Morocco: Archaeologists found the first clear Bronze Age evidence at Oued Beht, extending the site’s timeline via radiocarbon-dated construction phases. Digital Connectivity for Travel: A new wave of eSIM adoption is reshaping how African travelers and businesses buy and deploy mobile data across borders. Smart TV Privacy: A report claims some LG smart TVs can record audio while “off” and scan home networks, raising new privacy questions. Business Pulse: Morocco’s non-financial market services saw stronger Q2 activity (66% of firms reporting growth), led by telecom and air transport.

Clean Energy Industry: Morocco is pushing deeper into synthetic fuels, with a project in Tan-Tan targeting about 100,000 tons a year and roughly $1B investment to build a renewable-to-fuels industrial chain. Solar Manufacturing: Ember reports Africa’s solar panel output could quadruple this year, with Morocco among countries expected to reach around 1 GW total manufacturing capacity. AI Policy & Digital Government: Morocco moves its AI strategy into implementation, aiming for MAD 100B in GDP value by 2030. Cybersecurity: GoldFactory’s Gigabud Android banking trojan adds Vwork to clone banking apps into a separate managed environment, boosting fraud capability. Defense Tech: Covenant says its long-range cruise missile “Anthem” has flown 200+ times and may have tested at AMTEC in Tan-Tan; it targets 5,000 units annually. Education Robotics: Mint’s Rice Robotics AGI Holding signs an MoU with Edvance to distribute education robotics in Morocco, targeting 3,000 units across MENA over 36 months. Geoscience & Heritage: A new push highlights how Africa’s geoheritage remains under-documented and unevenly protected, limiting research and digital visibility.

AI Strategy Rollout: Morocco moved from planning to implementation with “Morocco AI 2030,” targeting MAD 100 billion in GDP value by 2030, 50,000 jobs, and training/certifying 200,000 AI talents, anchored by JAZARI Institutes and a sovereign AI marketplace for trusted, secure solutions. Public Safety & Drones: As Morocco expands UAV use for policing, the big challenge shifts from flying more drones to turning massive sensor data into actionable intelligence for decision-makers. Education & Skills: OECD PISA 2025 results show 73.2% of Moroccan students below baseline proficiency, with sharp drops in math, reading, and science since 2022. Health & Food Tech: A study found “zero-sugar” drinks in Morocco can still contain up to 5.81g sugar per 100mL, while another survey flags bread as the most wasted food in Moroccan households. Mobility & EVs: Morocco’s car market growth slowed to 0.9% in August, with EVs reaching 17.4% of passenger electrified registrations. Energy & Industry: Morocco and Guinea signed 25 cooperation agreements spanning energy, ports, research, and innovation; separately, Morocco seeks LNG supply diversification via U.S. trade talks. Governance & Elections: The Left Alliance launched a 431-measure, MAD 500 billion election program focused on social justice and sovereignty, with Ceuta migration framed as youth disillusionment.

AI for Public Safety: A report says Morocco’s expanding UAV use is shifting the real challenge from flying drones to turning massive sensor output into actionable intelligence for police decision-makers. Synthetic Fuels Push: Swiss Synhelion signed an MoU with Morocco to build a renewable synthetic fuel plant in Tan-Tan targeting up to 100,000 tons per year, aiming to scale an industrial supply chain. Health Tech Startup: One Med Link is building an AI-powered, interoperable clinical workflow and health-data platform for Moroccan care settings, using standards like FHIR to avoid creating another isolated system. Food Waste Research: A study in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems finds bread is the biggest Moroccan household food waste item at about 362 grams per week, driven by buying habits and perishability. Beverage Labeling Scrutiny: Another study flags mismatches in Moroccan soft drinks and energy drinks labels versus lab results, including sweeteners found in products marketed as sugar-free. Election Oversight: Morocco approved 3,006 election observers for the Sept. 23 vote, including CNDH and international delegations. Defense Cooperation: India and Morocco held an inaugural Joint Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi covering training, exercises, cyber defence, and defence industry collaboration. Energy Infrastructure: Progress updates highlight the Dakhla Atlantic Port project as Morocco and the US deepen maritime and regional connectivity cooperation.

Digital Voting in Morocco: Researchers tested “AdaptVote,” a digital voting system that can work with limited or no internet, using facial recognition plus blockchain and low-power hardware; in Nador it stayed operational 99.2% of the time and voters finished faster than paper. Renewables & Offshore Wind: A consortium led by OWC has been appointed by the EIB to run a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira, with grid and environmental work included. Agritech Skills Pipeline: UM6P-backed Digital Farming School opened applications for its first cohort in Côte d’Ivoire, training 50 students for agritech developer roles using drones, sensors, and decision-support tools. Education & AI Recognition: Rabat Business School broke into the Financial Times Masters in Management global top 10, while Morocco’s digital minister also earned an African excellence award for AI and digital sovereignty. Water Security: ONEE is studying a third desalination unit for Laayoune, aiming to raise capacity toward 900 liters per second. Health System Pressure: Morocco’s mental health plan 2030 targets major scale-up in beds, hospitals, and psychologists as the treatment gap remains wide. Sardine Virus Watch: Scientists are urging vigilance over possible pilchard herpesvirus after South Africa-linked die-offs, even as Morocco reports no confirmed cases. Geopolitics & Tech: The Ceuta dispute continues amid competing narratives, while Morocco also weighs defense modernization and regional security cooperation.

Sardine Health Watch: Scientists say no pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) has been officially confirmed in Morocco yet, but South Africa’s sardine die-offs since early August have reignited concern after genetic material from PHV was found in sardines, with high similarity to an Australian virus—prompting calls for stronger monitoring and faster lab reporting. Mental Health Access: Morocco’s Health ministry warns the mental health crisis is deepening: about 6.5 million people live with disorders, with an 85% treatment gap; a Mental Health Plan 2030 targets more beds, hospitals, psychologists, and a new legal framework. Industrial AI Reality Check: A report on Morocco’s manufacturing AI push flags a common bottleneck: pilots rarely scale because factory data and decision systems stay fragmented; the fix is better integration and execution, not just new algorithms. Water Security Upgrade: ONEE is studying a third Laayoune seawater desalination unit to raise capacity from 600 to about 900 liters per second, using reverse osmosis and assessing intake and network upgrades. Digital Sovereignty Recognition: Morocco’s digital minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni won an Africa Next Award for AI, digital sovereignty, and public innovation, alongside a 2026–2030 admin transformation roadmap. Aerospace Supply Boost: Morocco imported over $1B in advanced aerospace products from the U.S. in the first seven months of 2026 (+35%), as defense aviation modernization continues, including F-16 simulator work. Smart Grid Gap: A UM6P review finds Morocco’s smart grid research is growing, but it hasn’t yet translated into a structural energy-system transformation.

AI & Digital Governance in Morocco: Morocco’s Digital Transition minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni won an African Excellence Award for AI, digital sovereignty and public innovation, as her ministry pushes a 2026–2030 roadmap to modernize administration beyond digitizing old processes. Smart Energy Reality Check: UM6P researchers say Morocco’s smart-grid research is strong, but it hasn’t yet translated into a structural grid transformation—energy demand is rising faster than domestic production. Aerospace Push: Morocco imported over $1B in U.S. advanced aerospace products in the first seven months of 2026 (+35%), alongside new F-16 training simulator support. Offshore Wind Planning: The EIB commissioned a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira, including meteorological work and grid connection options. Election Tech Crackdown: Morocco introduced new penalties (Article 51-bis) targeting fake news and non-consensual digital content during the Sept 23 elections, with prison and fines for intent to harm or unlawfully influence the vote. Healthcare Tech: Moroccan researchers validated a patient-specific 3D pediatric brain phantom for CT neuroimaging research, aiming to improve dose reduction and image quality. Mobility & Platforms: Uber exited Nigeria after 12 years, but the wider Delivery Hero/Glovo deal keeps Morocco in its African footprint. Workforce vs Automation: Morocco’s outsourcing union warns AI and automation could disrupt call-center jobs and calls for retraining and recognized certifications.

Aerospace Trade: Morocco imported over $1.006B in advanced aerospace products from the U.S. in Jan–Jul 2026, up 35% year-on-year, with July alone at $148M—backed by deeper defense aviation ties including F-16 simulator support. Smart Grids: A UM6P review finds Morocco’s smart-grid research is growing fast, but the energy system transformation still lags behind demand and high import dependence. Energy Transition: Noor Ouarzazate’s 580 MW solar complex keeps generating after sunset using thermal storage with molten salts—turning Sahara heat into reliable power. Offshore Wind Push: The EIB commissioned a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira, including wind measurements, grid connection options, and environmental checks. Digital Governance: Morocco’s Ministry and ESCWA signed an MoU to accelerate digital and administrative reform, including AI and innovation. Election Tech Rules: New legislation criminalizes misuse of digital tech and AI in elections, including sharing images without consent and spreading fake news. Healthcare Imaging: Moroccan researchers validated a 3D pediatric brain CT phantom to improve dose reduction and image-quality testing in child neuroimaging. Banking Overhaul: Morocco’s banking sector braces for reconfiguration under a new law adding resolution mechanisms as neobanks and “super apps” ramp up competition. Fake News & AI: The election crackdown targets falsified content and rumors meant to undermine vote credibility and privacy. Time Policy: Morocco plans to revert from GMT+1 to GMT on Sept 20, ending an eight-year experiment.

Offshore Wind Push: The European Investment Bank commissioned a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm off the Atlantic coast near Essaouira, with OWC leading work on sites, wind measurements, grid connection, ports and supply chains, plus environmental and social impacts. Election Tech Crackdown: Morocco introduced new penalties ahead of the Sept. 23 legislative elections to curb fake news and misuse of voters’ or candidates’ images via digital tools and AI, with Article 51-bis setting prison and fines for harmful intent. Health Imaging Advance: Researchers in Morocco validated a new 3D, patient-specific pediatric brain CT phantom for better neuroimaging dose and protocol research. Digital Government Boost: Morocco and ESCWA signed an MoU to accelerate digital and administrative reform, including governance and AI. AI Infrastructure Deal: Magna AI partnered with Saudi ICT infrastructure firm MBUZZ to deliver AI infrastructure and transformation services across the Middle East and Africa. Energy Transition Spotlight: A new report highlights Morocco’s NOOR solar complex as a standout clean-energy investment case for Africa. Jobs Under Pressure: A Moroccan call-center outsourcing union warned AI and automation could disrupt thousands of jobs and urged a national retraining push.

AI & Jobs in Morocco’s Outsourcing: A Moroccan call-center union warns that fast AI adoption could disrupt thousands of jobs and asks for a national retraining push and recognized certifications for workers moving into new digital roles. Call Center Shock from France’s Ban: Three weeks after France’s opt-in rule for unsolicited commercial calls, Casablanca is already seeing early fallout—some sites reportedly closed or cut back—while the sector struggles to measure job losses due to informal employment. Morocco’s Time Change: Morocco plans to scrap GMT+1 and return to GMT on Sept. 20, ending an eight-year experiment that has sparked debate over energy use, health, and daily life. Energy Transition, Real-World Systems: A new analysis argues Morocco’s “Europe’s battery” narrative misses the hard part: how renewables, transmission, storage, and market rules interact in practice. Offshore Wind Feasibility: The EIB has selected an OWC-led consortium to study Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira, with a two-year feasibility work plan. Digital Governance & Privacy: A Council of Europe draft agenda moves Convention 108+ guidance toward adoption, aiming to shape how AI chatbots and agents handle data across 55 nations. Ceuta Crisis, Tech & Disinformation: Spain and Morocco trade accusations over the July Ceuta surge, while a pro-Israel Spanish digital network is flagged for alarmist, misleading messaging. Digital Transformation Recognition: Morocco’s digital transition minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni receives an Africa Next award for work on AI and modernizing public administration.

Digital Morocco: Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni won France’s “Africa Next” African Excellence Prize for digital transition, public administration reform, AI and rural connectivity. Renewables: The EIB picked an OWC-led consortium to run a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm off Essaouira, with grid, marine and environmental work included. AI & Privacy: A Council of Europe draft agenda moves Convention 108+ guidance toward formal adoption, aiming to cover how AI chatbots and agents handle data across 55 countries. Jobs & Outsourcing: After France’s unsolicited call-center ban, Casablanca firms report early tremors—closures, job uncertainty, and growing AI pressure on headcount. Health Research: A Rabat team reported a rare “owl’s eye” MRI pattern linked to acute anterior spinal artery ischemia in a case study. Sahara Diplomacy: Denmark renewed support for Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan as “credible,” signaling deeper strategic ties. Social Inclusion: Morocco’s disability prevalence hit 8.7% in 2026, with classification changes cited for the rise and calls for more targeted policies. Energy/Industry: Morocco’s call for drought strategy and water resilience sits alongside EU-style “economic water productivity” debates that could reshape how water is allocated.

Offshore Wind Push: OWC-led consortium picked by the EIB to run a two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore windfarm off the Atlantic near Essaouira, with grid, marine, environmental and social assessments planned. Public Health & Antibiotic Resistance: New research flags drug-resistant bacteria spreading beyond Moroccan hospitals, including community urinary infections and contamination in water/food systems—raising the risk of untreatable common infections. Disability Data Update: Morocco’s preliminary 2026 national disability survey reports 8.7% prevalence (up from 6.8% in 2014), with access gaps persisting and only about 29.7% of people with disabilities reporting a medical diagnosis. Education Rights: Hassan I University PhD students at Settat protest removal and alleged retroactive fees, demanding their registration reopened and second-year enrollment restored. Renewables & Energy Finance: Climate adaptation financing and risk-sharing are highlighted as urgent for Africa’s farmers, with calls for more inclusive, practical funding to cut climate losses. Renewable Industry Signals: China’s Haier and Midea plan to expand home appliance production in Africa, pointing to local manufacturing and jobs as adoption grows. Energy/Trade Link: Morocco is set to contribute expertise to Gaza reconstruction, shifting from aid to housing, infrastructure and urban planning support. Ceuta Tech/Policy Fallout: The Ceuta migration crisis continues to spill into EU politics, with the European Commission saying it needs more information before approving Spain’s emergency support request.

Climate & Risk: A new UN report says the world will likely exceed the Paris 1.5°C warming limit soon, shifting the focus to how high temperatures overshoot and how fast emissions can be cut. Public Health: Drug-resistant bacteria are being found beyond Moroccan hospitals, including in community infections and in water/food systems, raising the risk that common antibiotics may stop working. Disability & Inclusion: Morocco’s disability rate rose to 8.7% in a new national survey, with access and diagnosis gaps still limiting support. Waste-to-Energy in Casablanca: A consortium awarded a major EPC contract for a Casablanca WtE plant to process about 1.5 million tons of non-recyclable waste annually, targeting lower landfill dependence and emissions. Digital & Logistics Tech: Indra will digitize and automate the Port of Bilbao to meet EU customs rules—an example of the kind of compliance-driven port tech Morocco’s partners are pushing. Mobility & Travel Tech: DxO PhotoLab 10 adds faster editing tools for photographers, including smarter masking and dust removal. Migration Politics (Ceuta): Spain’s PM insists there’s no solid proof Morocco planned the July Ceuta border crisis, while protests and misinformation continue to inflame tensions. Business & Betting: A $16.9bn merger would pull Morocco casino operator CIRSA into a global betting group, with Blackstone set to become the biggest shareholder.

Ceuta Crisis Accountability: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez told parliament there’s “no evidence” Morocco planned or orchestrated the July Ceuta border breach, while admitting a key 10-hour border-control breakdown still needs explanation. Misinformation Watch: A separate Spanish police report says the entry was a staged process using social media and WhatsApp coordination, and the Red Cross has been targeted by viral fake posts. Humanitarian Tragedy: Off Spain’s Canary Islands, a migrant boat found adrift after 27 days left at least 80 confirmed dead (with reports of 128 aboard at departure). Morocco Tech & Industry: Morocco’s HCP survey shows higher Q2 activity in manufacturing (autos, electrical, chemicals) and construction, though raw-material supply issues persist. Renewables Pipeline: OWC leads an EIB-backed two-year feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm near Essaouira. Climate Risk Research: A study flags rapid urban growth making Tetouan more vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall. STEM Learning Trend: TikTok says STEM learning is rising across Sub-Saharan Africa as short-form content helps students tackle tough subjects. Port Digitalization: Indra is digitising the Port of Bilbao to meet new EU customs rules, including real-time data sharing and cybersecurity requirements.