🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Ten Moroccan talents honored for global influence at "Faces of Morocco" awards
via Le Matin2 min read
The second edition of the "Faces of Morocco of Excellence" awards, held in Casablanca on April 15, 2026, recognized ten Moroccan talents for their international achievements. Supported by the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad, the event highlighted individuals who contribute to Morocco's global presence across various strategic sectors. Honorees included Ambassador Samira Sitail, astrophysicist Meriem Elyajouri from NASA, composer Youssef Guezoum, triathlete Badr Siwane, coach Tarik Sektioui, and actress Mouna Fettou. A notable recognition went to Khadija Bendam for her election as president of the International Nuclear Societies Council INSC, marking a global first and demonstrating Moroccan leadership in nuclear governance. Her work with CNESTEN in safety and security audits further solidifies her role in international standards. The "Faces of Morocco" initiative, founded by Hind Chaouat, aims to connect diaspora talents with their home country and showcase inspiring journeys, projecting an image of Morocco as an open, connected, and excellence-driven nation on the international stage.
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Prince Moulay Rachid presided over the opening of the 18th International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM in Meknes. This event highlights the King's focus on the agricultural sector and Morocco's commitment to sustainable development, climate change, and food security. Upon arrival, Prince Moulay Rachid was greeted by various officials, including Princess Sara Bent Bandar Bin Abdelaziz Al Saoud, executive director of the International Dates Council, and the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests. He also presented distinctive origin and quality labels to presidents of agricultural cooperatives and groups, including "Amendes de Ghassate" to Mohamed Boussaksou and "cumin beldi d’Alnif" to Mohand Ihmadi. Prince Moulay Rachid also presented "Piment doux Ouled Ali Fkih Ben Saleh" to Mohamed Haidach and "Huile d’olive vierge-extra El Kelâa des Sraghna" to Abderrahman Labiad. The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, whose country is the guest of honor, greeted Prince Moulay Rachid, along with representatives from 11 other invited countries and development partners. Prince Moulay Rachid visited several exhibition areas, including the "Regions" pole, "Animal Production," "Food Security," and "Agricultural Council" pavilions, as well as those of OCP Group and other sponsors. The SIAM 2026, held at Place Sahrij Souani over 37 hectares, features 70 participating countries and expects over 1.1 million visitors. It hosts more th
Morocco is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into the practical driving license exam through a project called "Smart Drive Test." This initiative, under discussion since 2018 between the National Road Safety Agency NARSA and sector representatives, was re-evaluated in February 2026. Mustapha El Haji, president of the Moroccan Federation of Driving Instructors and School Owners, explained that the system involves "smart cars" equipped with sensors and software to analyze driving in real-time, identify errors, and automatically assign a score. The primary goal is to reduce human bias in evaluation, addressing concerns about favoritism and inconsistent assessments. However, El Haji cautions against premature generalization, citing structural deficiencies in current examination centers. He notes that only 19 to 20 of Morocco's 74 centers have closed tracks suitable for practical exams, with most candidates still taking tests in open, often busy, traffic conditions. He emphasizes that basic conditions must be met nationwide before implementing such advanced technology to ensure fair and standardized exams. The project is currently in the study and consultation phase, with no official deployment date announced.
A meeting was held in Rabat last week, initiated by the Brazilian Embassy in Morocco, to discuss strengthening cooperation in women's entrepreneurship between Brazil and Morocco. The event, organized around International Women's Day, brought together institutional actors, experts, and women entrepreneurs to foster concrete and lasting partnerships. Ambassador of Brazil to Morocco, Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola, emphasized that women's full participation in the economy is crucial for societal prosperity and highlighted the potential of the Morocco-Brazil partnership for sharing expertise and creating synergies. Leïla Doukali, president of the Association of Women Business Leaders of Morocco, stressed the strategic importance of this initiative, noting that women entrepreneurs still face structural obstacles like access to financing and sociocultural constraints. She called for strengthening cooperation mechanisms, including mentorship programs and business bridges, to overcome these challenges. Brazilian author Giselle Hardt highlighted Morocco's role as an inspiration and intercultural dialogue space. The discussions underscored the need to invest in women's skills and reinforce their presence in various productive sectors as essential actors for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Must ReadIgnacio Ramonet delivered conferences in Casablanca and Rabat, organized by the daily "Al Bayane," where he analyzed the evolution of information and global power dynamics. He began by placing artificial intelligence within the broader history of media, drawing parallels between the printing press and AI, noting that while printing industrialized writing, AI industrializes reasoning itself. Ramonet emphasized that communication technologies are not neutral, citing Nazi Germany's use of radio for propaganda as an example. He argued that journalism, historically, has not always prioritized truth, and we are now entering a "post-truth" era where facts are less self-evident, and social media increasingly shapes information consumption. He also highlighted the shift in information production centers from traditional media to digital platforms, leading to "data extractivism" where individuals unknowingly provide raw material for content generation. Ramonet stated that "the battle against artificial intelligence is lost," advocating for a return to rigorous journalism to discern reliable information. In his second conference, Ramonet discussed the progressive decline of European powers, illustrating this with an example of the UK's inability to quickly deploy a warship during a Middle East military escalation. He noted that neither France nor Germany now shape global balances, with the center of gravity shifting to actors like the United States and China. The new space race, particu