Casablanca has become the beating heart of industrial innovation this week as it hosts the inaugural World Advanced Manufacturing & Future Mobility Exhibition (WAM Morocco) from January 20 to 22, 2026. The event underscores Morocco’s growing ambition to become a leading hub for Industry 4.0 technologies and intelligent manufacturing in Africa and beyond.
This first edition has drawn impressive international attention, featuring over 60 speakers from more than 20 countries and delivering 45+ hours of expert-led sessions. Organizers describe WAM Morocco as one of the most influential gatherings driving industrial transformation across Africa and the Middle East.
Global Industry Experts Take the Stage in Casablanca
The event’s high-caliber lineup includes global executives and innovators making their first public appearance in Morocco. Key speakers include:
- Dr. Mehdi Snène, Chief AI Officer at the United Nations
- Alain Sanchez, Chief Information and Security Officer EMEA at Fortinet
- Maxime de Bonrepos, Vice President of Asset Management Renewables at ENGIE
- Isaac Chetrit, Board Director at Blazie Holdings (USA)
- Pavlo Stergard, Deputy Head for MENA at Bpifrance
According to Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International—the global event organizer behind Dubai World Trade Centre and GITEX—the impressive lineup reflects Morocco’s rising reputation in the global industrial arena.
“Their presence in Casablanca shows that Morocco has evolved from potential to performance, from ambition to execution,” LohMirmand said.
Billion-Euro Projects and Strategic Expertise
Many of these leaders manage or advise multi-billion-euro industrial and energy portfoliosworldwide.
- Dr. Snène oversees AI and neuroscience projects worth over €1 billion across Europe.
- Alain Sanchez leads global cybersecurity initiatives at Fortinet.
- Maxime de Bonrepos oversees ENGIE’s renewable energy portfolio, including major solar developments in the Middle East.
- Pavlo Stergard represents Bpifrance, which manages €57 billion in assets while supporting over 80,000 global enterprises.
Such participation cements WAM Morocco’s position as a strategic platform for industry growth, investment, and cooperation.
Driving the Future of Industry 4.0
WAM Morocco 2026 tackles some of the most critical topics shaping the global industrial landscape, including:
- Artificial intelligence and automation
- Cybersecurity in connected manufacturing
- Green and sustainable production
- Energy transition and renewable investments
- Data centers and digital infrastructure
- Supply chain resilience and global competitiveness
During his keynote, Dr. Snène emphasized that “artificial intelligence is the foundation of next-generation industrial ecosystems,” highlighting Morocco’s readiness to lead AI-driven manufacturing in Africa.
Meanwhile, Alain Sanchez underscored the importance of cybersecurity in the increasingly connected smart factory landscape, noting that digital security is now a matter of industrial and national stability.
A Global Exhibition of Innovation and Investment
The WAM Morocco Exhibition is hosting over 100 companies from 18+ countries, featuring global industry giants such as:
- Schneider Electric
- SAP
- ENGIE
- Hitachi
- Rockwell Automation
- Sumitomo Corporation
The event also welcomes startups, venture capital firms managing more than $50 billion in assets, and innovation challenges like the Supernova Challenge, designed to empower emerging manufacturing technologies and entrepreneurs.
As WAM Morocco 2026 continues, Casablanca is firmly positioning itself as the new epicenter of smart manufacturing and future mobility in Africa, fostering international cooperation and unlocking the continent’s next wave of industrial progress.
