Praise be to God    

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 On the occasion of the National Symposium on the Film Industry, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate filmmakers and stakeholders on their artistic and technical achievements that have made our film industry part and parcel of the nation’s cultural and social life. We therefore hope this event will usher in a new era for film production in our country, enable the sector to reach new heights in this vital area of artistic creativity and open up new prospects in terms of cultural development in Morocco.

 It is gratifying to note that this important national symposium is being held at a time when our country is making considerable progress in the field of cultural and artistic creativity.

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

 Building on a time-honored cultural heritage and a longstanding tradition of scholarly achievements, our country has managed to shape a distinctive cultural identity which is made up of different components that reinforce one another. Today, we are further consolidating this unique cultural identity as we seek to enrich it by promoting diversity, multiculturalism and openness to universal ideals.

 Wishing to develop artistic and cultural creativity in our country, I have been taking a keen interest in the national film industry and filmmakers, focusing in particular on plans designed to further boost and upgrade the sector by providing the support and assistance needed to promote filmmaking and film-related events and initiatives.

 It is pleasing to see that several national film festivals showcasing our country’s cultural and artistic creativity are now renowned at international, continental and regional levels.  We therefore need to further develop these festivals, make them more professional and expand the technical base underpinning them. This is a prerequisite for the sustainability of these festivals and for improved performance.

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

 The Moroccan film industry has accomplished a great deal over the past five decades, thanks, in particular, to the work of scriptwriters, actors and technicians. Similarly, public policies designed to accompany and support artistic creativity have had a positive impact. They have contributed to promoting free, responsible creativity and provided direct assistance and incentives.

   Today, I would like to stress the need for all the stakeholders concerned to come together and adopt a participatory approach involving filmmakers in this crucial cultural sector, making sure the latter’s concerns and aspirations are duly taken into account. The aim is to improve filmmaking at all levels in our country, and I do hope this national symposium will reach conclusions that can pave the way for the achievement of our goals through concerted efforts and commitment to a shared vision.

   In this regard, I commend the participatory approach adopted when drawing up the comprehensive plan for the sector’s development. It was initiated by the ministry in charge of the film industry, in consultation with the Moroccan film centre, other sectors, various government institutions and the stakeholders involved in the film industry in our country. We hope your conference will help to achieve a quantum leap in the filmmaking sector.

   The reform plan which will be finalized in the light of your debate and discussions will, by the grace of the Almighty, enable us to make a qualitative leap forward. We firmly believe that in order to boost filmmaking in our country, we have to implement an effective, multi-dimensional public policy.

   Ladies and Gentlemen,

   I wish to emphasize the importance of coordination and cooperation between the various government sectors concerned in order to build on the conclusions of this symposium. Our foremost objective, I must add, is first to safeguard our achievements in this sector, and then to meet the conditions needed for its development, laying special emphasis on the transition from quantity to quality. When doing so, we must make sure that the Moroccan identity is properly highlighted, that there is strong commitment to promoting cultural interaction and the universal values shared by mankind, and that there is also a keen desire to ensure freedom of creativity, look after filmmakers and support serious, meaningful initiatives in this domain. We have to keep in mind the creative filmmaking’s lofty mission as well as our urgent need for national film productions that bolster our cultural identity, develop Morocco’s cultural and historical heritage, and preserve the country’s attractiveness and competitiveness.

   In this regard, our film production should keep pace with and reflect the changes unfolding in the country. It should also showcase the nation’s accomplishments as Morocco resolutely forges ahead with its development-oriented efforts and with the consolidation of its distinctive cultural model, in a stable environment and through consensus-based approaches.

   May Almighty God grant you every success.

 Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.