Mr. Bensaid Emphasizes the Importance of Cultural Industries as a Lever for Economic Growth for Artists

Rabat – The Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sports, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, emphasized on Tuesday in Rabat the paramount importance his department places on establishing the concept of a cultural industry, with the aim of injecting economic dynamism that offers new opportunities and new avenues for artists.

Presenting the ministry’s draft sectoral budget for 2027 to the Committee on Education, Culture, and Communication in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bensaid explained that support for the arts sector has seen remarkable growth, citing an increase in the budget allocated to theatrical productions, as well as the creation of new cinemas in small and medium-sized towns, in order to ensure an economic model that is not solely dependent on subsidies.

On the social front, the minister highlighted his department’s commitment, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Public Performance, to resolving issues related to health insurance contributions for certain categories of artists. He explained the decision to create a social service within the ministry’s General Secretariat dedicated to handling artists’ social cases, rather than establishing an independent institution.

Regarding the press and publishing sector, the government official mentioned the transition to a new support model for media companies, with a budget exceeding 250 million dirhams. He specified that this support focuses primarily on investment in human capital, promoting journalistic specialization, enhancing the international reach of the national press, and ensuring the application of specific copyright laws for journalists.

Regarding the youth and sports sectors, Mr. Bensaid emphasized the importance of investing in the video game industry by developing dedicated spaces capable of attracting both Moroccan and foreign investors.

He also stressed the importance of modernizing youth center services by integrating video games to reach new segments of the population less interested in traditional activities. He emphasized the need for local authorities and elected councils to support clubs across various disciplines to ensure genuine and sustainable sports development beyond 2030.

For his part, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, responsible for Youth, Salah-Eddine Abkari, indicated that the department is adopting a new vision for upgrading youth centers, focused on a territorial approach to address the specific needs of each neighborhood or region, based on precise socio-economic indicators.

The current year has been marked by the planned rehabilitation of infrastructure at 230 youth centers, Mr. Abkari continued, explaining that this project will strengthen innovative services, such as psychological support and business incubation, to guide young people toward employment, while preserving core traditional activities.

Along the same lines, he stated that the introduction of video games in youth centers aims to provide guidance for young people and allow vulnerable groups to access this area in a safe and controlled environment, protecting them from delinquency while developing their skills. He noted that the “Youth Pass” aims to facilitate young people’s access to various available public and private services and generate a tangible impact on their lives.

Mr. Abkari also emphasized that the drafting of the law governing scouting is nearing completion, thus implementing the main recommendations of the National Camping Conference. In this context, he highlighted the various provisions of this text, which aim to strengthen child protection mechanisms.

Regarding the management of these spaces, he affirmed that the activities of the holiday camps will be maintained throughout the year to ensure their continued upkeep, through the development of participatory models allowing associations and partners to benefit.

For their part, members of parliament from both the majority and the opposition called for the development of integrated public policies to promote the youth, culture, communication, and sports sectors, emphasizing the need to dedicate resources to these areas.