(Ecofin Agency) - Morocco is stepping up its international cooperation efforts to accelerate its digital transformation. Over the past three months, the country has strengthened ties with Portugal and Estonia.

Morocco and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance their collaboration in e-government initiatives. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Morocco’s Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, and Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Digital Government Authority, formalized the agreement on December 16 during the 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which runs until December 19.

Under the agreement, the two nations will work together to promote research, innovation, and the adoption of advanced technologies in e-government. They will also share best practices and build specialized expertise in the field.

This partnership aligns with Morocco’s efforts to implement its new digital transformation strategy, "Digital Morocco 2030," which was officially launched in September. Over the past few months, Morocco has also established closer ties with Portugal and Estonia—an internationally recognized leader in digital transformation.

Saudi Arabia is ranked sixth globally on the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) with a score of 0.9602 out of 1. The country excels in subcategories such as online services (0.9900) and telecommunications infrastructure (0.9841). It is also recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a model for cybersecurity, having achieved full compliance with the five pillars of the Global Cybersecurity Index.

In comparison, Morocco ranks 90th worldwide on the EGDI with a score of 0.6841. While the country is also considered a cybersecurity leader, there is room for improvement in capacity-building and implementing advanced measures.

The strengthened partnership with Saudi Arabia could help Morocco achieve its vision of becoming a digital hub by 2030, accelerating social and economic development. The Moroccan government aims for the digital sector to contribute 100 billion dirhams ($10 billion) to the national economy by 2030. However, the discussions are still in the early stages, and no timeline has yet been set for implementing the agreement.