Morocco is working to make culture a crucial element within its development process.
Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid affirmed that Morocco is intensifying its efforts to preserve national cultural heritage and protect languages and strengthen intangible capital.
Bensaid made the statement at a February 17 workshop on “the pilot implementation of the indicators of culture by 2030.”.
Regarding the workshop, the minister said that it is an opportunity to highlight Morocco’s cultural wealth and reflect the country’s special focus on Moroccan cultural identity, which is in line with instructions from King Mohammed VI.
The minister outlined that “the workshop is an opportunity to benefit from UNESCO’s proposed measures to allow culture to play a crucial role in the national economy, particularly through the development of the cultural market, both at the supply and demand levels.”
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Bensaid said that culture can be a source of economic growth and an essential element in the process of sustainable development. He then highlighted the importance of culture as a multidimensional lever for economic prosperity, inclusive social connections and geopolitical soft power.
The government official expressed his gratitude to the partners, saying that he is committed to working with them in a constructive and effective manner to ensure the project’s success.
Highlighting Essaouira as a symbol of intercultural and interreligious harmony, Bensaid stressed that choosing the city as a pilot for “implementing UNESCO’s Culture Indicators 2030 stems from the fact that it places culture at the center of its regional and national development plans.” “The city is also listed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites,” he added.
The government has already established a five-year program to develop an integrated cultural policy aimed at preserving and strengthening the national cultural identity and promoting attachment to national values.
The program aims to boost the commitment of the Moroccan people to the principles of openness and friendship between peoples.
The goal of this workshop is to raise awareness of UNESCO’s Culture 2030 Indicators methodology among national and local teams and stakeholders.
