‘Morocco With Purpose’ Launches Jaliya Day Inaugural Edition

Casablanca – The first edition of Jaliya Day, a new national symposium dedicated to Morocco’s diaspora, took place Monday at Carré d’Or in Casablanca.

It brought together Moroccan entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, institutions, and business leaders from across the world to explore opportunities for greater engagement with the Kingdom.

Organized by “Morocco With Purpose,” the event sought to connect members of the diaspora with Morocco’s economic, entrepreneurial, and institutional ecosystem, while opening conversations around investment, innovation, employment, and the role of Moroccan talent abroad in the country’s development.

Empowering Morocco’s global youth

The day opened with a speech by Morocco With Purpose founder Hiba El Aidi, who highlighted the need to create stronger links between Morocco and its diaspora, particularly its younger generations.

She raised the question of how Morocco can better channel the skills and expertise of Moroccans living abroad, as well as the financial resources they send back home, toward investment and national development.

According to El Aidi, young members of the diaspora are increasingly asking how they can contribute to their country of origin. For her, today’s youth are more connected, globally minded, and multilingual, and are looking for ways to actively participate in Morocco’s future.

Tehn Mustapha Messoudi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, attended the event on behalf of Minister Mehdi Bensaid.

Messoudi emphasized the importance of involving young Moroccans in the country’s economic, social, and cultural development. He also highlighted several initiatives already in place to support and engage young people, including the Pass Jeunes program, the Maroc Jeunesse Prize, and international exchange programs.

‘Morocco of the Future’

Held under the theme “Morocco of the Future: Industry, Innovation and Competitiveness,” the first panel brought together Youssef Fadil, Director General of Industry at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Mohamed Bachiri, Vice President General of the CGEM.

The discussion explored the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in shaping Morocco’s future, while also addressing the expectations placed on the country’s younger generation.

For Bachiri, aspiring entrepreneurs should begin by identifying a problem they want to solve before developing a solution that offers something different from what already exists.

He also encouraged young Moroccans to approach the country’s challenges with a more positive outlook, emphasizing that they have a role to play in improving the country they call home.

When asked what he expects from the new generation toward Moroccan businesses, Bachiri called on young Moroccans abroad to act as “economic ambassadors” by bringing their expertise to Moroccan companies and taking the risk of co-investing with businesses in the Kingdom.

He stressed that competence, motivation, and determination are essential to success, arguing that having an extensive network alone is not enough if it is not accompanied by the skills and perseverance needed to turn an idea into reality.

Fadil, meanwhile, highlighted artificial intelligence as an important lever for development and innovation, while also acknowledging that the technology can present new challenges and potential threats.

The panel then opened the floor to the audience, allowing participants to share the barriers they face when considering entrepreneurship or launching projects in Morocco.

Some pointed to the uncertainty of starting from scratch without knowing whether a project would succeed. Others raised the complexity of policies and regulations, while a third group cited access to funding as the most critical challenge.

Turning challenges into opportunities

The second panel built on these concerns, shifting the conversation toward more concrete questions around what it takes to succeed in the entrepreneurial world.

The lack of financing is not necessarily the main obstacle facing entrepreneurs, argued Maroc PME Alaoui Ismaili, pointing to the range of funding opportunities already available.

For him, one of the more significant challenges remains the willingness and determination of individuals to pursue their ideas. He also highlighted the progress Morocco has made in recent years, particularly through technological development and the growing role of artificial intelligence.

He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to recognize the opportunities and initiative already available in Morocco, stressing that the key is to actively seek information about them.

Mohamed Elfane, President of the Investment and Franchising Commission at CCISCS similarly argued that money should not be viewed as the starting point of an entrepreneurial journey. Instead, he emphasized the importance of having a strong business model and being willing to challenge and refine it.

He also highlighted the critical need to understand the environment in which a business operates, noting that each country has its own culture and way of doing things.

“Morocco is the country where we should invest,” he said, while also identifying networking as one of the pillars of entrepreneurial success.

Collaboration and openness are essential to building successful projects, he concluded, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to work hard, reach out to others, and put their egos aside.

From expectations to reality

Following the panel discussions, two workshops offered participants the opportunity to move from conversation to practical insights.

The first addressed a challenge that many members of the diaspora may face when returning to Morocco with plans to invest, work, or launch a project: the gap between expectations and reality.

The workshop aimed to help participants distinguish between the ideas and expectations they may have about doing business in Morocco and the realities they are likely to encounter on the ground.

The second workshop focused on taxation, business creation, and financing, providing participants with practical information around some of the key steps involved in establishing and developing a business in Morocco.

The Moroccan dream

The day’s discussions continued with a third panel under the theme “The Moroccan Dream: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Diaspora,” bringing the conversation back to the broader question of what it means to build a future in Morocco.

Hamid Ben Elafdil, president of Foundation Jadara, highlighted the challenges that come with entrepreneurship, including commitment, uncertainty, and a lack of stability.

Anyone considering this path must first be prepared to accept its difficulties while learning to adapt to the reality of the country in which they operate, he stressed.

Rather than comparing Morocco’s business environment with that of other countries, he encouraged entrepreneurs to understand the local context and adapt to its own culture and ways of doing business.

Putting ideas in the spotlight

The event wrapped up with the Jaliya Pitch Session, giving selected entrepreneurs from Morocco and abroad the opportunity to present their startups, businesses, innovative projects, and ideas before investors, business leaders, institutions, and members of Morocco’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The initiative was designed to offer more than visibility, giving participants access to strategic partnerships, mentorship and ecosystem support, as well as potential funding and investment opportunities.

The session reflected Jaliya Day’s broader ambition of creating a platform where Moroccan talent, whether based in Morocco or abroad, can connect its ideas and ambitions with the opportunities available in the country.

Among the many entrepreneurs who presented their ideas during the session, three startups were selected for further support and accompaniment: Mayagent, Dar Lilei, and Privara.

With the inaugural edition of Jaliya Day, Morocco With Purpose is hoping to position the diaspora as an active partner in Morocco’s economic development, innovation, and international influence.

The event also comes as Morocco With Purpose marks five years of activity. The organization celebrated the milestone at the Chellah archaeological site on July 21, one day before the launch of Jaliya Day, marking a new chapter in its work to connect Moroccans abroad with opportunities and decision-makers in their country of origin.