Oracle Intensifies R&D Commitment in Morocco, Unleashing Technological Prowess

Friday 10 May 2024 - 11:35

In a monumental stride towards fostering innovation and technological excellence, the American tech giant Oracle is poised to reinforce its research and development (R&D) endeavors in Morocco. This strategic move will see the company's workforce in the North African nation swell to 1,000 highly skilled young talents, specializing in information technology. Oracle's expansion, a first of its kind in Africa and the eighth globally, follows the successful opening of its development center at the Casanearshore Park in Casablanca. This ambitious endeavor encompasses plans to establish new Oracle offices in Agadir this year and further expand into northern Morocco within the next two years.

This groundbreaking expansion was formalized through an agreement signed on Thursday in San Francisco, the epicenter of technological innovation in the United States. The agreement was inked by Ghita Mezzour, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, and Safra Catz, Oracle's President and Chief Executive Officer. The accord aims to fortify ties and bolster Morocco's commitment to fostering innovation, while simultaneously catalyzing the advancement of cutting-edge technologies developed by Oracle to address the challenges faced by its global clientele.

The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Mohcine Jazouli, the Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence, and Public Policy Evaluation, and Ali Seddiki, the Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE).

Ghita Mezzour underscored the strategic significance of this ambitious project, stating, "This initiative aligns with His Majesty King Mohammed VI's comprehensive vision, which calls for nurturing innovation and fostering the creativity of Moroccan youth."

"In this state-of-the-art center, young Moroccans will be at the forefront of designing and developing innovative solutions encompassing the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity," the minister emphasized. "These solutions will be deployed globally, solidifying Morocco's position as a regional digital hub."

Safra Catz, Oracle's CEO, echoed the sentiment, stating, "Oracle's R&D center in Casablanca has already played a pivotal role in driving technical breakthroughs, enhancing cybersecurity, and deploying impactful new AI capabilities."

"By expanding our R&D presence in Morocco, we can further leverage its talent pool to accelerate the development of solutions that enable our global clients to grow their businesses and succeed in their respective industries," Catz added.

Oracle's expansion, a trailblazing initiative in Africa and the eighth of its kind worldwide, follows the successful launch of its development center at the Casanearshore Park in Casablanca. At this center, engineers and researchers are developing Oracle's cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies to tackle the most pressing challenges faced by businesses, scientific research, and the public sector across the globe.

According to the joint communiqué, approximately 40% of the newly created jobs will be distributed beyond the Grand Casablanca and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regions, with the aim of fostering professional opportunities across the Kingdom.

This strategic move paves the way for the opening of new Oracle offices in Agadir later this year, as well as further expansion into northern Morocco over the next two years.