Morocco Partners with French AI Firm Mistral AI to Boost Local Innovation

Rabat – Morocco has taken a new step to strengthen its position in the field of artificial intelligence by partnering with Mistral AI, a French company specializing in generative artificial intelligence.

The agreement aims to develop Moroccan expertise in AI through training, applied research, and knowledge exchange.

Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, signed on Friday a Memorandum of Understanding with Arthur Mensch, cofounder and CEO of Mistral AI. 

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat and was attended by several senior officials, including Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour.

Also in attendance were Omar Seghrouchni, President of the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (CNDP), Nezha Hayat, Director General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, and Khalid Safir, Director General of the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG).

The agreement further seeks to encourage the creation of startups and industrial projects that use AI solutions designed for the needs of local businesses, according to a statement from the ministry. 

Read also: Morocco Signs Agreement to Develop National Responsible AI Platform

In addition, the partnership emphasizes the importance of an ethical, inclusive, and responsible approach to artificial intelligence, with a focus on protecting data and building citizens’ trust.  

With this partnership, Morocco also hopes to reinforce its position as a regional hub for digital innovation and as a reference point for artificial intelligence on the African continent, concluded the statement.

Founded in 2023, Mistral AI is a French startup that has quickly become a prominent player in the global race to develop advanced generative AI models. Its cofounder and CEO, Arthur Mensch, along with fellow researchers Guillaume Lample and Timothée Lacroix, established the company with a mission to create powerful but accessible large language models. 

For Morocco, this partnership is part of a broader national effort to build a sustainable and inclusive AI ecosystem. The government has been working on a national strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into education, research, and industry while ensuring that technological progress remains aligned with principles of ethics and sovereignty. 

Under the Morocco Digital 2030 program, initiatives are already underway to introduce AI concepts to young people, equip schools with digital tools, and train teachers and students in new technologies. 

As researchers in Morocco are increasingly applying AI in areas such as healthcare, governance, and linguistic diversity, this new partnership is expected to give a bold new impetus to the country’s adoption of AI.