US Grants Morocco $94 Million for Economic Development and Tech Innovation

According to a press release from the Ministry, the project targeted by this American grant takes into account three important components. It is an "integrated local development program" that encompasses the sectors of economic growth and governance in the pilot regions of Marrakech-Safi and Béni-Mellal-Khénifra.

Then, there is the creation of public-private partnerships, in particular, for the construction of a Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology hub within a university institution. The third component will have to support activities that strengthen the resilience of communities, "by strengthening the capacities of key institutions and civil society organizations to provide services to at-risk youth in vulnerable communities".

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mohamed Benchaaboun expressed the wish to see "American investments develop in Morocco", while thanking the USAID Office in Rabat "for the sustained efforts it continues to make for the consolidation and flourishing of its cooperation ties."

For her part, Brooke Isham specified that "the agreement signed [...] marks a new era of collaboration between the Agency and Morocco". According to her, this is not the first time that USAID has participated in a social program in Morocco.