UN: Morocco’s Ambassador to Co-Chair ECOSOC Forum on Science, Technology, Innovation

The President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Bob Rae, has appointed Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, to co-chair, with Finland’s Ambassador, Elina Kalkku, the ECOSOC Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to be held on May 7 and 8, 2025.

The choice of Morocco reflects the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI in the field of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in light of the remarkable progress in the digital transformation of the Kingdom’s infrastructure and its positioning as an African leader in AI.

This designation is also a recognition of the Royal vision that initiated an ambitious digital transformation project since the start of his reign, aimed at modernizing digital and telecommunications infrastructures, improving access to technology for citizens and integrating technology and innovation into education and for the benefit of young people.

Furthermore, the UN responsibility entrusted to Omar Hilale reflects the credibility, trust and respect that Morocco enjoys at the United Nations level, as an active and credible actor, and consolidates the Kingdom’s new technological model based on innovation and research.

This designation comes after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact last September in New York, and follows the successful co-facilitation by the Moroccan Ambassador of the first-ever UN resolution on artificial intelligence, adopted by the General Assembly last March, and his co-chairmanship of the first UN Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence, together with the United States. This active Group is composed of more than sixty member countries.

The 10th edition of the ECOSOC Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation will be an opportunity for Morocco to lead the discussions and submit the results of the consultations, in July 2025, to the ECOSOC High-level Political Forum, which is the supreme UN body responsible for the implementation of the SDGs.