CEO of Naoris: “To retain our talents, we must offer them attractive employment conditions”

In this interview with Challenge.ma, Youssef El Maddarsi, CEO of Naoris, takes stock of E-governance in Morocco.

Advanced technologies enable countries to go beyond traditional development models, with a focus on improving digital trust, security and quality of service. One of today’s challenges is integrating these technologies into public sector strategies to drive sustainable growth and innovation.

Political will, regulation, governance, human factor, lack of skills, financing… What, in your opinion, are the obstacles and limitations that hinder the process of digitalization of public services?

The digitalization of public services faces major challenges, including technologies that advance much faster than regulations, fragmented governance, human resistance to change, a lack of digital skills and financial constraints. Overcoming these obstacles will therefore require an integrated approach, requiring regulatory updates, capacity building and strategic investments in training and technologies to ensure a successful and comprehensive digital transformation.

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What PPP partnership model exists today for egov development in Morocco?

In Morocco, public-private partnerships (PPPs) adapted to e-government development can take different forms. Of these, the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model seems particularly promising. The BOT’s advantage lies in its ability to combine technical expertise and private financing with public service objectives, while limiting financial and operational risks to the state. This enables efficient and rapid implementation of the necessary technologies, with a gradual transfer of skills and management to the public sector, which is crucial for the long-term success of eGovernment initiatives.

Egov is one of your areas of intervention. What is your opinion about the Moroccan ecosystem?

At Naoris, we are carefully observing the evolution of Morocco’s e-government ecosystem, which offers a promising mix of opportunities and challenges. Morocco has made significant progress thanks to initiatives aimed at digitalizing public services. However, challenges remain, including the fragmentation of efforts and the increased need for digital skills among the workforce. I believe that strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors could accelerate digitalization while maximizing efficiency and innovation. Such an approach would align the resources and expertise needed to overcome current barriers, creating a more integrated and user-centric eGovernment ecosystem in Morocco.

The digitalization of EPs is in full swing (we see this through certain successes), the will is there… but with what local skills?

We are on the right track in the digitalization of public companies in Morocco, despite certain challenges such as the drain of talent in the technology sector. To address this, it is crucial to strengthen our education system so that it can better respond to market needs. We need to build strong partnerships with universities and training centers to ensure that programs are well aligned with current industry demands. Creating centers of excellence in technological areas such as cybersecurity, AI or blockchain would also be an excellent initiative.

In order to retain our talents in Morocco, we must also offer them attractive employment conditions. This includes competitive compensation, genuine professional development opportunities and a working environment that inspires and motivates. The introduction of a Visa-Tech could also help us attract and retain international talent, while enriching our labor market with the exchange of skills and knowledge. Drawing inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Nigeria, which have developed dynamic technological ecosystems, Morocco, which is already a regional leader in technology, has everything to gain from strengthening its position in this field. By taking a strategic and well-supported approach, we can not only overcome the challenges, but also maximize the opportunities that digitalization offers. This direction will strengthen Morocco’s position as a key player in the world of technology and innovation.

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Is the Tech Visa a Solution?

The Tech visa could indeed be a relevant solution for Morocco. This type of visa is designed to attract international talent and thereby enrich our technology ecosystem with diverse skills and new ideas. It can also help fill immediate skills gaps while promoting knowledge transfer to local professionals. To retain our tech talent, it is crucial to create an attractive environment in which these professionals can flourish. This includes offering competitive salaries, interesting career paths, continuing education opportunities and a stimulating work environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. It is also important to highlight the prospects for the development of large-scale projects that have a significant social and economic impact, which can be very motivating.

If we compare Morocco in the digital field with countries such as Rwanda and Nigeria, we see that these countries have managed to create a technology-friendly environment through strong government policies and strategic investments in infrastructure and technology education. Rwanda in particular has implemented impressive reforms to support innovation and attract foreign investment, while Nigeria benefits from a large domestic market and a very active startup scene.

Morocco, despite its continental dominance, could learn from these models to strengthen its own digital sector, especially by improving infrastructure and supporting start-ups, thus confirming its continental leadership. To make innovation an accelerator of e-government in Morocco, it is essential to implement a national strategy that integrates advanced technologies into public services. This could include the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data to make public services more efficient, transparent and accessible. Finally, encouraging a culture of innovation within public services through training and incentives can catalyze this transformation.