The first Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025 (GIES2025) opened on February 11, in Casablanca, bringing together experts, government officials, and business leaders to tackle Africa’s growing need for sustainable mobility and energy solutions. The event highlights Morocco’s leadership in green innovation and aims to inspire similar efforts across the continent.
Transportation: A Major Challenge for Sustainability
Transportation is a key focus at GIES2025, as it remains one of Morocco’s biggest environmental challenges. Abdelilah Hifdi, President of the Moroccan Federation of Transport and Logistics (FTL-CGEM), shared alarming statistics in an interview with Morocco World News (MWN). He revealed that the transport sector consumes 40% of Morocco’s total energy and contributes nearly 25% of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our current mobility system is unsustainable,” Hifdi said. “Road transport relies almost entirely on fossil fuels. This summit is a crucial step toward changing that.”
The summit aligns with Morocco’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, focusing on cleaner, safer, and more sustainable transport solutions. It also aims to connect renewable energy initiatives with the transport sector, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Morocco’s Commitment to Green Energy
Morocco has made significant strides in energy transition under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Ayda Fathi, Automotive Industry Leader at the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasized the country’s progress in building a competitive automotive ecosystem.
“Morocco is fully committed to this energy transition,” Fathi said. “We’ve developed a high-performing automotive industry, and now we’re leading the way in sustainable mobility.”
Minister Benali Highlights Progress
In a video address, Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, stressed the importance of sustainable transport. She noted that the sector consumes over 36% of Morocco’s final energy, with 99% reliance on fossil fuels, and accounts for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Benali also highlighted Morocco’s achievements in sustainable mobility infrastructure. The country now has 150 charging points covering more than 1,200 kilometers, all powered by 100% Moroccan innovations. She also mentioned key policies, such as tax exemptions for electric and hybrid vehicles and the adoption of Euro 6 standards since January 2022.
France Joins as Guest of Honor
France’s participation as the guest of honor reflects the strong Franco-Moroccan partnership in sustainable development. This collaboration builds on commitments made during COP21 in Paris and reinforced at COP22 in Marrakech. Hifdi praised the renewed ties between Morocco and France, citing the shared vision of President Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI to strengthen bilateral relations.
A Blueprint for Africa
The summit has been hailed as a model for other African nations. Nganga Henri, President of the Cameroon Transport Union Federation, called the event “professional and inspiring.” He emphasized the need for African countries to adopt renewable energy solutions and hybrid transport systems to protect the environment.
“This summit is a wake-up call for Africa,” Henri said. “We must modernize our transport systems and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Henri also urged Morocco to expand its South-South cooperation strategy to include Central African nations. He expressed hope that Morocco’s expertise would help transform transportation in Cameroon, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Key Sessions and Discussions
The summit’s afternoon program featured four critical sessions:
- Transport Decarbonization: Experts discussed strategies to cut carbon emissions, focusing on innovative technologies and policies.
- Skills Transition for Sustainable Mobility: A workshop addressed the need for workforce training to prepare for future challenges.
- Public Mobility Transformation: This session explored ways to modernize public transport infrastructure and services.
- Global Insights on Electric Mobility: A workshop led by Ayvens shared international experiences in transitioning to electric vehicles.
A Greener Path Forward
GIES2025 marks a turning point in Morocco’s efforts to create a sustainable transport sector. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the summit aims to inspire similar initiatives across Africa. Morocco’s leadership in green mobility sets a powerful example, showing that a cleaner, greener future is within reach.