Casablanca — Casablanca served as the focal point and host for Africa’s sustainable future today as Schneider Electric launched its first Innovation Day in Morocco. Held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the event convened government officials, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss the continent’s green energy and digital transformation.
“We are organizing this meeting for a very simple reason: to bring together you—public decision-makers, private actors, experts, and young talents—around a common ambition, which is to accelerate Africa’s energy, digital, and industrial transition,” Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng, President for Francophone Africa and Islands at Schneider Electric, said in her opening speech.
She then emphasized Morocco’s leadership in renewable energy, noting the country’s progress toward its 2030 goal of 52% renewable energy in its electricity mix. She highlighted the importance of youth, innovation, and local industrial development in achieving this vision.
Fadil Youcef, Director General of Industry at Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, praised the event for aligning with the country’s strategic vision. He emphasized the importance of integrating energy, digital technology, and industrial sovereignty to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development.
“Regarding energy, Morocco has undertaken its energy transition since the early 2000s under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. A clear vision was set: to reduce energy dependence and become a regional leader in renewable energy. Today, about 40% of our energy mix comes from renewable sources, with the objective, as mentioned earlier, to reach 52% by 2030,” he said.
He also highlighted Morocco’s efforts in digital infrastructure—including 5G, start-ups, and automation projects— which will prepare the country for future industrial transformation.
A key moment of the day was the signing of a partnership between Schneider Electric, the Ministry of Industry, and FENELEC, conducted by Nader Al Zouabi, Director General of Schneider Electric, Fadil Youcef, and Ali El Harti, CEO of FENELEC.
The partnership aims to support local industrial integration, innovation, and job creation, reflecting Morocco’s commitment to leveraging technology and human talent to strengthen the country’s industrial and green energy sectors.
Brahim Benmoussa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment, emphasized Morocco’s strategy, which focuses on increasing renewable energy, digitalizing infrastructure, and integrating global value chains.
He explained that Morocco has established an ambitious action plan built on three key pillars:
- Increasing renewable energy to reach 52% of electricity capacity by 2030.
- Digitalizing strategic infrastructure for greater efficiency and resilience.
- Integrating more fully into global value chains to enable technology transfer, local wealth creation, and innovation-led development.
“These ambitions reflect a clear vision: a Morocco that acts as a driver of transformation regionally, and potentially internationally, capable of combining economic growth, environmental preservation, and societal well-being. It must be recognized that Morocco’s future is built here, by us and with our partners, through sincere engagement, a shared determination to progress, and concrete, innovative, and exclusive projects,” he added.
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French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier highlighted France’s long-standing partnership with Morocco and the importance of collaboration between French and Moroccan companies in the energy and digital sectors.
“French companies recognized, nearly 20 years ago, Morocco as a key event in their strategies to integrate into global value chains. And I am pleased that today they benefit from even stronger political momentum. I can confidently say we have fulfilled our role,” he said.
He noted that Schneider Electric has played a central role in promoting sustainable energy solutions and strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of Schneider Electric, stressed the urgent need to double energy access while cutting carbon emissions over the next 20 years. He highlighted that 1 billion people currently lack energy, 2 billion have insufficient access, and over 1 billion new inhabitants will be in Africa.
Tricoire emphasized that mature solutions — energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization supported by AI and smart infrastructure — are ready for implementation.
“With data quality, AI can significantly improve process efficiency and quality. Our solutions, implemented globally, demonstrate that combining sustainability and profitability benefits societies while creating more competitive industries,” he said.
A highlight of the day was the Innovation Hub Reveal, featuring pavilions such as Infrastructure of the Future, AI-Ready Data Center, Buildings of the Future, Industries of the Future, Grid of the Future, and Trusted Information and Insights, presenting various projects and ideas aimed at exploring the potential of digital and technological innovation.
The event demonstrated Morocco’s position as a hub for green energy and digital innovation in Africa, bringing together public and private stakeholders to build a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive economy.
