Guided by the Royal Vision for an active, anticipatory and proactive diplomacy, Morocco took early lead among influential players in advancing global momentum of governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the United Nations Omar Hilale said Wednesday in Salé.
"This is why Morocco has opted for partnership with the United States and, at the same time, adherence to the Chinese initiative, demonstrating willingness to go forward with this technological revolution", Hilale said at a round table discussion on the theme "Multilateralism or race to AI: what global governance in a fragmented world?", held as part of the First National Conference on AI (July 1-2).
On the contrary, he stressed, the Kingdom aspires to further all international efforts with all partners at the cutting edge of digital technology, far from any political alienation, with the stated aim of facilitating common views, encouraging South-South cooperation, anchoring AI governance in sustainable development goals and working towards democratic access to AI tools, skills and infrastructure.
"Morocco recognizes that this access is not a matter of technical assistance, but a requirement for justice, shared innovation and solidarity, as part of digital sovereignty", he insisted.
In this respect, the ambassador recalled that, within the UN, Morocco was the only Arab and African country invited by the United States to jointly present the first UN resolution on AI. Adopted by consensus, this resolution puts AI at the service of sustainable development, he noted.
Morocco initiated and co-chairs with the United States the UN Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development, a framework for thinking “outside the box”, exchange and cooperation, which offers its members from various regional groups the opportunity to examine the most problematic topics and the latest developments in AI.
The Kingdom is also actively involved in the negotiations underway to draft the Terms of Reference and Modalities for the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, and those for the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, Hilale added.
In addition, the Kingdom was recently sought by the countries of Central Asia for support to draft and negotiate their first resolution on the role of AI in creating new opportunities for sustainable development in this region, which resolution, devised by Morocco, is scheduled for adoption in early July, he noted.
The diplomat also pointed out that Morocco is co-chairing the 2025 ECOSOC Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation, noting that the Kingdom currently chairs the Coalition on Science, Technology and Innovation for Africa's Development, which aims to promote the development and use of ethical AI to accelerate progress towards the 2030 and 2063 agendas.
The objectives of the “Morocco 2030” Digital Strategy and the mobilization of the MAD 11 billion in funds contribute to the achievement of this goal, he maintained.
Morocco's numerous actions at the UN, as well as the national strategy resulting from the First National Conference on AI, are all highly important assets enabling Morocco to establish itself as a bridge-builder and a committed contributor to the global governance of AI, he reflected.
"This national technological influence will promote Moroccan leadership on the African continent, and could bolster or even legitimize the Kingdom's ambitions to host the AI Action Summit in 2027, after the first edition held in Paris in February 2025, and the one planned for New Delhi in 2026", he highlighted.
MAP: 03 July 2025
