Rabat – Casablanca is hosting the first edition of the World Advanced Manufacturing & Future Mobility Exhibition (WAM Morocco) from January 20 to 22, supporting Morocco’s ambition to become a regional hub for Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing.
The event has secured more than 60 speakers from over 20 countries, delivering more than 45 hours of strategic content across three days. With its strong international participation and high-level agenda, WAM Morocco positions itself as one of the most influential platforms for industrial transformation in Africa and the wider region, said the organizers in a press release.
Among the headline speakers are global leaders making their first regional or Moroccan speaking appearance. These include Mehdi Snène, Chief AI Officer of the United Nations, Alain Sanchez, Chief Information and Security Officer for EMEA at Fortinet, and Maxime de Bonrepos, Vice President of Asset Management Renewables at ENGIE.
Other speakers include Isaac Chetrit, Board Director at Blazie Holdings in the United States, and Pavlo Stergard, Deputy Head for MENA at Bpifrance.
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, said the strong speaker lineup reflects Morocco’s growing role in global industry. “Their presence in Casablanca signals that Morocco has moved from potential to performance, from ambition to execution,” she said. KAOUN International is the global events organizer for the Dubai World Trade Center, which puts on major events such as GITEX.
Many of the speakers manage or advise multi-billion-dollar portfolios. Snène oversees major AI and neuroscience projects in Europe valued at more than €1 billion. Alain Sanchez leads cybersecurity strategy for Fortinet’s global enterprise operations, while Maxime de Bonrepos manages ENGIE’s renewable energy assets, including major solar projects in the Middle East.
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Meanwhile, Pavlo Stergard represents Bpifrance, which manages over €57 billion in assets and supports more than 80,000 companies worldwide.
The conference focuses on key topics shaping the future of industry, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, green manufacturing, energy transition, data centers, supply chain resilience, and global investment flows. Speakers stated that these issues are not only about technology, but also about national competitiveness and economic security.
“Artificial intelligence is the foundation upon which the next generation of industrial ecosystems will be built,” Dr. Snène said, adding that Morocco’s strategic vision makes it well positioned to lead AI-driven manufacturing in Africa.
Alain Sanchez discussed the importance of digital security, noting that as factories become more connected, cybersecurity becomes critical to both industry and national stability.
WAM Morocco brings together more than 100 participating companies from over 18 countries, including major global names such as Schneider Electric, SAP, ENGIE, Hitachi, Rockwell Automation, and Sumitomo Corporation. The event also features startups, investors managing over $50 billion in assets, and initiatives such as the Supernova Challenge, which supports innovative manufacturing startups.