Women Summit 2026: female leadership central to Morocco's Atlantic ambition

Hanane Aït Aïssa, President of Startup Grow Foundation, highlighted that no development dynamic succeeds without the contribution of women. The event, attended by political, diplomatic, and economic figures from Morocco and other African capitals, focused on the theme "Atlantic Initiative: Women Driving Africa's Inclusive & Sustainable Growth." The Atlantic Initiative aims to provide Sahel countries with access to the ocean and foster a more connected Africa.

Morocco was presented as a model, citing reforms in its Family Code, increased political representation, and economic empowerment, all under Royal Impulsion. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, stressed the need to strengthen women's economic presence, noting that recent baccalaureate results showed girls outperforming boys, indicating a promising future for female leadership in Morocco. The summit also addressed financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.

Saïd Jabrani, Director General of Tamwilcom, revealed a 25-point gap in banking access between men and women, with only 15% of female entrepreneurs securing bank loans. While microfinance serves nearly 85% of women beneficiaries, this often limits them to micro-enterprises. Tamwilcom's initiatives include guaranteeing 80% of loans for women, co-financing at 2% ove