Morocco Promotes Cultural Diversity, Multilingualism in Education and Youth Employment – Akhannouch says at Francophonie Summit

Head of government Aziz Akhannouch stressed Morocco’s commitment to the values of l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), such as cultural diversity and multilingualism, which the Kingdom is working to promote through education and youth employability programs.

“Morocco, a member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie since 1981, shares the values represented by this organization, such as cultural diversity and multilingualism. These are values that Morocco is committed to promoting in various fields, notably education and youth employability programs,” said Akhannouch, speaking on a panel on the second day of the 19th Francophonie Summit, which closed on Saturday at the Grand Palais in the French capital.

Akhannouch represented King Mohammed VI at the two-day Francophonie Summit.

Speaking at the round-table discussion, attended by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abdelatif Miraoui, the head of government outlined the reforms undertaken by Morocco in the field of education, emphasizing that the Kingdom has placed educational reform among its top priorities.

Referring to the challenges of multilingualism and youth employability, Akhannouch emphasized that language learning plays “an essential role in improving the employability of our young people, as it enables them to acquire cross-disciplinary skills, and broader access to the job market not only in their country of origin, but also internationally.”

Emphasizing the role of digital as a key lever, Akhannouch stressed the need to integrate the dimension of accessibility to new technologies, especially as digital constitutes “a major reservoir for the creation of employment opportunities, particularly for young people.”

In this respect, he cited the implementation of the Maroc Digital 2030 strategy, launched a few days ago, which is one of the main levers of the government’s roadmap for employment: with the objective of training 100,000 young people annually by 2026 in the digital field – and the creation of 240,000 direct jobs in the digital economy.

On the sidelines of the summit, Akhannouch held a series of bilateral meetings, notably with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary.

Morocco was also present at the event through a pavilion showcasing the Kingdom’s cultural richness and diversity, and highlighting its unique heritage as well as its various sustainability-related initiatives.

The pavilion has been packed with visitors, all keen to be in such a warm space of Moroccan hospitality, and to embark on a journey of exploration of the country’s heritage, including a reality tour of the Kingdom’s historic sites.

Since joining the OIF in 1981, Morocco has emerged as a key player through its active participation in the organization’s various bodies.

This dynamism demonstrates the Kingdom’s determination to contribute to the promotion of the OIF’s founding values, such as cultural diversity, multilingualism, and international cooperation.