Saloua Karkri-Belkeziz, President of APEBI “Hosting the AITEX comes at a time when Morocco has announced its 2020 digital strategy”

Organized under the patronage of Hi Majesty and under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy, the first edition of the AITEX (IT EXPO AFRICA), held from 21 to 24 September, positioned itself as a “showcase of diverse digital services and the latest digital developments and first platform of technological innovation in Africa.” IDM contacted Saloua Karkri-Belkeziz, President of APEBI to give us some clarification on this newborn and her opinion on the digital transformation in Morocco. Interview by Hisham RAHIOUI

Do you have a long-term strategy that aims to make AITEX the meeting place for the digital development in Africa?

In fact, from the presentation of our project during the elections at the Apebi, we estimated that IT is a sector that was to have its own space, knowing that for five years, in the Ministry of external Commerce is a budget for the internalisation of salons. It is a budget which Apebi has only been able to benefit from this year. And on top of that, the challenge was a bit hard to take because we had only six months to give birth to the Aitex. Add to this the circumstances of the situation, the COP22, etc. But in the end, we are pleased to have set up the first edition of this show which, was held under the patronage of His Majesty. This show also comes at an opportune time in the sense that Morocco has announced its 2020 digital strategy.Inorder to position ourselves as a showcase of digital offer in its diversity and the latest digital developments and first tech innovation platform in Africa, we also relied on the African dimension, because during the last royal visits to certain countries, there was the creation of two economic pulse groups with Senegal and Ivory Coast with the digital economy as an important commission. It was thus impossible to imagine a Fair dedicated to IT without an African dimension.

All we hope is that this continental event has a certain permanence and an African influence worthy of the name. It is for this reason, that in every edition, there will be some African countries will be honored. For this first edition, it was Senegal and Ivory Coast with very large delegations.

Is the goal of this exhibition is to succeed the digital transformation of the kingdom and set an example to other African countries or is there another purpose?

It is rather to accompany this digital transformation. This should be a showcase. On this occasion, I want to deplore the competition for the best eGov project organized by the Ministry of public Function and Modernisation of Administration which has always been a partner of Apebi not to be organized on the occasion of the Aitex. In my opinion we should have only one action at this show, so that Aitex can really be a showcase that highlights the digital transformation that occurs in Morocco. When this is the case, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy should be called to give us an update on the stages completed at the Digital 2020.

And what is the origin of the problem that you just raised?

Unfortunately, this comes first from the resistance to change and then due to the problem of holding the information. To me, they think they have power and believe it will elude them, while what has been demonstrated is that this apprehension is not at all well founded.

On the contrary, those who have gotten in as DGI, La Poste, well … have taken advantage of digitization. During Aitex in a panel, DGI said that over 60% of revenues now are perceived through the digital platform. This did not at all remove their power. Instead the digital platform helped them to free themselves from repetitive tasks inorder to concentrate on monitoring missions, decision, etc.

I also want to say that with the arrival of this government, its slogan in 2012 was the fight against corruption. Digitizing is one of the most effective countermeasures to fight against this phenomenon.

That is why at the beginning I hoped that with this government, digitization would see a beautiful development, at least for public services. I’m not saying that there has not been achievements in this direction but take the example of the thumbnail.

When you initiate a process of this kind, one must not make the citizens pay the cost . In Morocco, we proceed unlike other countries that encourage their citizens to opt for digital channels rather than paper money. For example, these countries explain to their citizens that with digital channels, they will pay much less. In addition, I wonder why we allow banks in such operations. If the state wants them to be intermediaries, it is for her to pay and not for the citizens to bear the costs.

Is it not there that the role of Apebi comes in to push things a towards digital services at the service of the citizens whom you advocate for?

Totally agree with you. When I fight, I fight for the development of my country. And country’s development, means interest of citizens at stake. Projects should make life easier for our citizens; not only that of businesses. Take health for example, Lala Salma Foundation is doing a great job in the management of patients with the implementation of a digital service that allows an instant access to the files of the patients.

On the other hand, what saddens me is that we have the means in Morocco to do better. There are young talents that need to be considered first. Besides, when someone pointed out to me about the absence of big businesses at Aitex, I replied that this exhibition is for the showcase of startups. That is why we have dedicated a space in Maroc Digital; in Technopark and in Maroc Numeric Cluster. Our goal is to lend a push to these young innovative companies that develop great applications and that are not known and are struggling to market their innovative products.

As president and active member of Apebi, what can you tell us about the Apebi strategy to have a better influence in the IT environment in Morocco?

As of January 2016, in our platform we presented a program with four strategic pillars. First, that of offshoring. This pillar we have conducted safely since the ecosystem Offshoring had been signed. Now we expect the Finance Act 2017 to unlock the necessary budget and start the work. The second pillar was to help give birth to the 2020 digital strategy. There, I can assure you that I harassed the minister practically once every week because with the elections, we were afraid that the strategy would never see the day. The third pillar was to return to the organization of a salon that can be Morocco’s digital showcase. With Aitex, it’s a mission accomplished. The last pillar is related to exports towards Africa. Again, we really set the pace in this direction and several member companies of Apebi work with African countries. At this level, I want to acknowledge the contribution of Maroc Export with whom we have established an excellent partnership that allows us to achieve the objectives of this strategic pillar.