Kingdom
Morocco–EU: Three new projects to support cultural and creative industries
Led by several institutional and associative partners, these initiatives aim to support young Moroccan creators, encourage co-creation with Europe, and promote cultural entrepreneurship.
A new milestone in Morocco–EU cultural cooperation was reached on Tuesday in Rabat with the signing of three projects supporting cultural and creative industries (CCIs).
The ceremony, co-chaired by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and the EU Ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, formalised partnerships with the Africalia Foundation, the Goethe-Institut, and the Hiba Foundation. The shared objective is to position CCIs as a driver of economic development and social inclusion for young people.
The three projects, selected through a call for proposals, directly target young Moroccan creators by offering concrete support and building bridges with European ecosystems.
The first project, “Iqlaa, your cultural accelerator”, led by Africalia in partnership with the Hiba Foundation and the Institut Français, focuses on the economic sustainability of young cultural enterprises.
The second, “Hi-Fenn: connect, create, resonate”, led by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with the Ali Zaoua Foundation and the Wallonia-Brussels Foundation, aims to stimulate co-creation and the exchange of expertise between Moroccan and European creators.
The third, “Creative Morocco Gate”, led by the Hiba Foundation and the Association of Independent Radio and Television, seeks to provide entrepreneurs in the sector with a platform for information, networking, and development.
Speaking at the event, Minister Bensaid emphasised that CCIs are now an essential driver of the global economy, noting that Morocco is working to develop a clear strategy to enhance the international reach of Moroccan culture, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Ambassador Tzantchev, for his part, praised the strength of this cooperation—illustrated in particular by the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026—and reaffirmed the shared commitment of both parties to a sustainable cultural and creative ecosystem involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society.
