Rabat – Arab ministers and cultural leaders gathered in Rabat today for the 24th Ministerial Conference on Cultural Affairs, where Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, called for a unified Arab approach to address the challenges of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
He proposed the creation of a coalition to advocate for the promotion of Arab digital content, counter misinformation, combat extremism, and spotlight the region’s rich cultural diversity, Bensaid said in his opening speech.
He added that the coalition would allow Arab countries to promote mutual interests, including defending the Palestinian cause.
Bensaid also noted the importance of leveraging cultural content to address shared challenges, particularly those related to digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Speaking to Morocco World News on the sidelines of the event, Bensaid said that the key objective is to exchange experiences and create joint investments to strengthen the Arab economy as a whole and generate new jobs for both young people and others.
“Considering the challenges we face today, including the emergence of artificial intelligence, which we have also discussed, there is a real concern that it could threaten a number of professions. Therefore, the cultural industry is a viable alternative to this global transformation,” he told MWN.
In his speech, Bensaid expressed Morocco’s commitment to Arab cooperation under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. He outlined the country’s “pragmatic” and “visionary” approach to promoting collective Arab interests through multilateral collaboration.
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He further proposed the establishment of a permanent professional forum dedicated to unifying Arab visions, exchanging expertise, and fostering partnerships in the cultural and creative sectors.
This initiative would aim to provide a platform for collaboration among stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, cultural event organizers, publishers, audiovisual professionals, and technology experts.
The event brought together Arab ministers responsible for cultural affairs, alongside representatives from organizations such as UNESCO and ISESCO, to discuss pressing topics, including the creative and cultural industries, the challenges of digital transformation, and the impacts of artificial intelligence.
These include Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), who told MWN that the event will produce a set of recommendations that will serve as the roadmap for the future of the Arab Organization for Cultural and Educational Development.
The recommendations will address several issues the Arab world is facing, especially in regard to cultural industries.
Ould Amar noted the high level of participation at the event, which saw the attendance of 21 out of 22 Arab countries.
