The third edition of the Visa Fintech Day recently took place at the Tour Mohammed VI in Rabat, bringing together influential figures from Morocco’s financial ecosystem to explore digital payments, financial inclusion, and the future of innovation in finance.

Hosted by Visa in collaboration with the Morocco Fintech Center (MFC), the Agence de Développement du Digital (ADD), and Technopark, the event convened government officials, regulators, banks, fintech startups, investors, and tech companies. A key focus this year was the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping financial services across the country.

The opening ceremony featured remarks from Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, who highlighted AI’s potential in driving an inclusive digital transformation. Discussions also included a conversation between Sami Romdhane, Visa Country Manager for Morocco, and Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, on how digitalization is reshaping the national economy.

Attendees emphasized how digital technologies are modernizing Morocco’s economic landscape, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Digital payments, data analytics, and AI-driven tools are now seen as critical drivers of competitiveness and growth in the financial sector.

Morocco’s push for AI-driven financial innovation

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a comprehensive white paper on Morocco’s fintech ecosystem. Developed jointly by Visa and the Morocco Fintech Center with input from multiple institutions, the report serves as a strategic guide for investors, industry professionals, and policymakers.

The document outlines several key recommendations to accelerate financial innovation in Morocco, including the establishment of regulatory sandboxes for secure pilot testing of new services, standardized technology integrations between market players, enhanced funding mechanisms for startups, and greater adoption of AI and data analytics to promote financial inclusion.

The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program was also spotlighted during the event. Launched as part of Visa’s commitment to invest $1 billion in African fintech by 2027, this initiative supports fintech startups through a 12-week intensive program.

Collaboration between startups, banks, and regulators gains momentum

Since its inception, the accelerator has supported 104 fintech startups across six cohorts, with a combined valuation exceeding $1.4 billion. In Morocco, ten startups have already benefited from the program, gaining access to strategic mentorship, Visa’s technological infrastructure, and funding opportunities.

This year’s edition showcased two Moroccan startups from the latest cohort, both leveraging AI and data-driven solutions to address structural challenges in the financial sector. According to Sami Romdhane, these developments reflect the growing maturity of Morocco’s fintech ecosystem, where collaboration between fintechs, banks, and regulators is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Visa is actively supporting this trend by providing its global expertise and technological resources to enhance financial innovation and expand access to financial services nationwide.