18 December, Morocco – As part of its 2020 vision, the government of Morocco is putting plans in place to position itself as a strategic hub for Africa, with a top performing IT business environment. While digital transformation has primarily been led by the private sector, more public sector organisations are recognising the importance of modernising their operations to better serve citizens.
In line with this, Microsoft, together with its partners, today hosted a Digital Government Summit in Morocco, which focused on the importance of digital transformation in the government space. The event, which brought delegates together at The View Hotel in Rabat, showcased a range of Government Industry Solutions, including those powered by Azure and Microsoft AI.
“Microsoft is at the forefront of supporting governments in going digital, empowering them to do more and achieve more for the citizens they serve” says Salwa Smaoui, Director Government Industry, MEA. “Armed with technology like AI, governments can deliver new and improved citizen services at scale, and make more data-driven decisions. Today, we’re showcasing solutions that enable governments to step away from old processes and paper-based methods, and instead build intelligent ecosystems that improve economic health and quality of life.”
Speaking at the event, Hicham Iraqi Houssaini, Country Manager for Microsoft French Speaking Countries in Africa, noted that new technologies like artificial intelligence and automation are creating exciting new opportunities for innovation. “Digital assistants or chatbots, for example, can help government agencies improve citizen services by making information more accessible, while automation can streamline processes such as applications for licenses and permits,” he says.
In addition to showcasing e-government solutions, the summit also explored the importance of 21st century skills development in an increasingly digital world. Delegates were encouraged to provide more access to computer science education in schools, to prepare students for the jobs of the future.
The digital summit in Morocco was one in a series that Microsoft is hosting across the continent, with others having taken place in Nigeria and Kenya.
“We hope that through events like these are, our vision of transformation through technology can be further accepted and adopted, improving the competitiveness of economies across Africa,” concludes Hicham Iraqi
