Morocco strengthens its position as a regional exporter of AI-related

09:45

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco strengthens its position as a regional exporter of AI-related

Morocco is strengthening its position as an emerging exporter of advanced technology products linked to artificial intelligence, according to the World Bank’s latest economic assessment of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region.

The World Bank’s October 2026 report indicates that advanced technology products now account for more than 5% of Morocco’s industrial exports, highlighting the country’s growing integration into international technology value chains. The development places Morocco among the regional economies making visible progress in technology-intensive exports.

Tunisia remains the leading country in the region in terms of the share of advanced technology products in industrial exports, with the figure exceeding 7%. Morocco follows with a share above 5%, ahead of countries such as Egypt and Pakistan. The figures point to an increasing role for North African economies in the production and international trade of technology-related goods.

Artificial intelligence-related products are an important part of this trend. Morocco and Tunisia have emerged as notable exporters of such products, reflecting their growing participation in a rapidly evolving technology sector. For Morocco, the expansion comes alongside efforts to diversify industrial activity and strengthen its presence in global value chains.

The World Bank also notes a broader rise in advanced technology exports among developing oil-importing economies in the region. Their share increased from less than 2% of industrial exports in 2012 to around 3.5% in 2024. Morocco’s share, therefore, stands above the average recorded for this group.

However, stronger technology exports do not necessarily mean that a country has achieved broad adoption of artificial intelligence across its domestic economy. The World Bank highlights significant differences between countries depending on their digital infrastructure, availability of skilled workers, regulatory frameworks and the ability of businesses to incorporate advanced technologies into their core activities.

This distinction is particularly relevant for Morocco. While the country has made progress in exporting technology-related products, the adoption of artificial intelligence and other advanced digital tools by domestic companies remains relatively limited.

A 2024 technology adoption survey of Moroccan businesses found that 98.8% of companies used basic digital tools, while roughly one-third had adopted more advanced software and applications. The figures demonstrate that digital connectivity and basic technological adoption have become widespread across the business sector.

The transition toward more sophisticated technologies, however, remains slower. Only around 4.3% of Moroccan companies reported using big-data analytics or artificial intelligence, compared with approximately 40% that use cloud computing. The gap suggests that businesses are still at different stages of the digital transformation process.

The intensity with which companies use advanced technology is also important. According to the World Bank, simply purchasing or adopting a digital solution does not automatically translate into significant productivity gains. The strongest economic benefits tend to emerge when technology becomes deeply integrated into a company’s main operations and decision-making processes.

For Moroccan businesses, the cost of adopting advanced technologies remains one of the major obstacles to deeper digital transformation. As basic digital tools become increasingly common, the challenge is shifting toward helping companies adopt technologies that can generate measurable improvements in productivity, innovation and competitiveness.

Morocco’s experience therefore reflects a dual development. The country is expanding its role as a producer and exporter of technology-related goods, including products associated with artificial intelligence, while still facing the need to accelerate the domestic adoption of these technologies. Bridging that gap could determine how effectively Morocco converts its growing position in technology exports into broader economic gains.