American tech giant Oracle announced plans to significantly expand its research and development (R&D) operations in Morocco. The company will hire an additional 1,000 IT professionals, boosting its local workforce and accelerating the development of cutting-edge technologies that address global customer challenges, it said on Thursday in a press release. This expansion was formalized on Thursday through a signed agreement between Ghita Mezzour, Morocco's Minister for Digital Transition and Administration Reform, and Oracle CEO Safra Catz. The signing ceremony was attended by Mohcine Jazouli, Minister of Investment and Public Policy Evaluation, and Ali Seddiki, General Director of Morocco's investment promotion agency (AMDIE). «Oracle's Casablanca R&D center has already made significant contributions in areas like technical innovation, cybersecurity advancements, and impactful AI solutions», stated Safra Catz. «By expanding our R&D presence, we can leverage Morocco's deep talent pool to accelerate development of solutions that empower our global customers to thrive», she added. «This cutting-edge center will place young Moroccan minds at the forefront of innovation», said Mezzour. «They'll design and develop solutions in AI, big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity that will be deployed globally, solidifying Morocco's position as a regional digital hub». This expansion builds upon the existing Oracle Development Center in Casablanca's Casanearshore Park. There, researchers utilize Oracle's cloud, AI, and machine learning technologies to tackle critical challenges across business, science, and the public sector. The press release concludes by highlighting Oracle's commitment to national distribution of opportunities. An estimated 40% of new positions will be located outside Casablanca and Rabat, with new Oracle offices planned for Agadir this year and Northern Morocco in the next two years.
