Morocco is fervently pursuing its ambition to establish itself as a central hub for the gaming industry in Africa, an endeavor that has led the state to implement a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at nurturing a sector that is still in its nascent stages. The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication is at the forefront of this movement, overseeing various programs designed to foster growth and innovation within the gaming landscape. One of the flagship initiatives is the "Video Game Incubator" program, which is set to launch its second edition in 2026 in collaboration with the French Embassy in Morocco. This program will provide twelve Moroccan project leaders with bespoke guidance and the expertise of international professionals, significantly enhancing the quality of local gaming projects.
In addition to the incubator, the Ministry has introduced the "Gamification Lab," a collaborative effort with the Caisse de Dépôts et de Gestion (CDG) and CDG Invest. This initiative aims to establish a national platform dedicated to developing gamification solutions that can address various public policy challenges while simultaneously supporting the growth of local gaming studios. Moreover, additional sector-specific programs are in place, including the incubation of 100 leisure gaming projects, executed in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Engineering (SMIT). These initiatives highlight Morocco's commitment to scaling projects and catering to various market segments.
As of the 2025–2026 academic year, over fifteen specialized programs have received accreditation, with an ambitious goal of training 10,000 skilled professionals by 2030. This includes plans to produce 6,000 graduates and 4,000 candidates from vocational training programs. The "Video Game Creator" certification program, developed in collaboration with the French Embassy, exemplifies this strategy by offering curriculum designed by the renowned ISART Digital school. This curriculum covers essential areas such as game design, programming, project management, and corporate internships, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped for the industry.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and the OFPPT, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication is making significant strides to align educational outcomes with market demands. This strategic alignment is crucial in ensuring that the burgeoning gaming sector is supported by a workforce that is both highly skilled and adaptable to the industry's evolving needs. With initiatives like "l’Offre Maroc," the Kingdom is actively working to lure investments into the gaming ecosystem by offering various incentives, including VAT and customs duty exemptions for imported equipment for a duration of 36 months, coupled with an investment subsidy that can reach up to 30% of the committed amount. Additionally, corporate income tax exemptions are available for five years, followed by public coverage of 56% of the tax rate for specific activities.
The incentive framework extends to employment, offering bonuses of up to 17% of annual gross salaries, and training support that includes public contributions of up to 3.5% of wage costs. To further stimulate decentralized project development, the framework also features reduced income tax rates, capped at 20% in major cities like Rabat and Casablanca, and at 10% in less urbanized regions.
Partnerships with France, facilitated by the embassy and the Institut français, embody the spirit of collaboration that underpins these incubation and training programs. Morocco is also engaging with international corporate partners such as Huawei, Level Link Partners, and Game X Company (GXC), along with esteemed educational institutions like ISART Digital and UIR. The collaboration extends to various ministries including Investment, Industry, Higher Education, and Digital Transition, as well as public institutions like AMDIE, CDG, SMIT, OFPPT, and Tamwilcom.
Finally, significant events such as the Morocco Gaming Expo, which has been held annually in Rabat since 2024, play a crucial role in fostering connections among developers, investors, and publishers, further solidifying Morocco's position as a rising star in the gaming industry.
As reported by telquel.ma.
