Berkane – Innovative technological approaches to smart city management were at the centre of the proceedings of the second International Symposium on Smart Cities, which began on Thursday in Berkane, under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI.
Organised by the prefecture of the Berkane province, under the theme "Management of smart cities in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT)", this two-day symposium aims to highlight the latest technological advances and strategies aimed at optimising urban governance and strengthening sustainable and inclusive development.
This meeting also aims to strengthen international cooperation and technological innovation by attracting international experts and discussing best practices related to sustainable smart cities capable of meeting challenges.
It is also about placing Berkane on the map of smart cities, both at the continental and international levels, through the strengthening of digital infrastructure, the development of interactive platforms, and the use of artificial intelligence technology to provide more transparent and efficient services at the territorial level.
During the opening ceremony, participants unanimously agreed on the importance of digital transformation as a key lever for managing urban areas, especially since smart cities have become an essential model of modern urban management, relying on advanced tools that allow for rapid and effective decision-making to meet growing challenges.
The Governor of the Berkane province, Mohamed Ali Habouha, stressed that this edition addresses an important and topical issue related to the management of smart cities, noting, in this sense, that the concept of urban management goes beyond the traditional management of resources and services to encompass advanced and interconnected systems that provide decision-makers with the necessary tools to make effective and sustainable decisions.
- Habouha noted that this innovative management approach relies on advanced technologies, such as data science, AI, geographic information systems, IoT, data centres, cloud computing, and large-scale data transmission, estimating that these tools bring about a qualitative change in the way cities are planned and managed and anticipate the challenges they face.
For his part, the Secretary General in charge of Regional Affairs at the Oriental wilaya, Rachid Zenati, indicated that this symposium embodies the strategic importance of AI and IoT in designing the future of smart cities, given their central role in accelerating the pace of digital transformation and achieving sustainable development.
He continued that AI, which plays a key role in digital transformation through the development of productive sectors and its impact on the economy and society, has become an effective tool for economic development and the improvement of basic services, such as health and education, making them more efficient and better adapted.
For his part, the Director General of the Oriental Development Agency (ADO), Mohamed M’barki, noted that the human factor, with its creativity and culture, remains at the heart of the development of smart cities, continuing that a truly smart city places people at the centre of the urban system and aims to achieve efficiency, comprehensiveness, and sustainability.
He added that the city of Berkane, which has strengthened its position within the global network of smart cities, has been able to chart a clear path in this field and has achieved tangible progress, which makes it a positive model that can lead other cities towards smarter and more efficient governance systems.
In a statement to MAP, Khalid Jaafar, Vice-President of the Mohammed First University (UMP-Oujda) and Director of the National School of Artificial Intelligence and Digital of Berkane, considered that the participation of the UMP in this international event is part of the continuous cooperation between the university and the Berkane province to establish a new dynamic of reflection and scientific research, through training dedicated to engineering students in the field of smart cities.
He added that smart cities have become an imperative necessity at the national and international levels, and that Morocco continues to implement its digital strategy, affirming that the creation of the National School of Artificial Intelligence and Digital in Berkane is a pioneering step that is part of the major projects launched in the region and the province.
For his part, the Consul General of the Comoros, Said Omar Said Hassan, praised the rich experience of the city of Berkane in this field, expressing his country's desire to benefit from this model, particularly at the level of the capital.
He noted that this event represents an opportunity for the exchange of experiences and expertise, particularly in terms of smart city technologies and cooperation between African countries, affirming that the Comoros seeks to benefit from the Moroccan experience, particularly that of Berkane, which has won awards at the continental level in this field.
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