Argument.

Gradually we recognize the incredible benefits of inter-African collaboration (and the enormous cost of the lack of inter-African cooperation) both for Africa itself and for the world.

Thanks to multilateral African and international cooperation, deserts and arid lands across the globe, especially in Africa (The Sahara and the Sahel), with their vast and rich natural maritime seaboards and coastlines , are an open workshop and a scene of substantial and Trans-Saharan megaprojects and infrastructures: The DESERTEC Project (Clean and renewable energy), the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (Greening the Sahara and combating the desertification), the Trans Africa Pipeline Project (Water), the "Power Africa " Initiative, the "Desert to Power" Initiative...Such promising Megaprojects and Initiatives, if fully executed, will undoubtedly contribute to rebirthing Africa into holding its deserved high stature, and will play a pivotal role in keeping up with sustainable development and in ensuring African food security, even more, they will provide abundance in the production for export.

The Possible Africa, where there are all ingredients: Diversity and Younger population, richness in natural resources, unique geographical configuration and morphology: Savannah, forests, mountains, lakes, vast coasts, deserts and the Great Sahara Desert.

The Sahara Desert, instead of being underexploited, it could be an exclusive competitive advantage and the mythical and memorable brand image for Africa, and it may be the ideal place to boot a strong and long term inter-African and international cooperation in the service of humankind.

The targeted sustainable development in arid lands, just like anywhere else, is governed by an environmental transformation that will fundamentally change our lifestyle, as sustainability is its corn stone. Concepts like the green economy or circular economy, the blue or ocean economy, and ecotourism (desert tourism) are all plainly supposed to be renewable energy dependant. Thus, the environmental impact of any human activity, such as, travel and tourism industry, land and maritime transport, shipping and logistics, agricultural and fishing... is a major criterion that will tag the range of receptivity and continuity of these economic activities, in the light of an increasingly environmentally-friendly legal arsenal, with a focus on green finance and cleantech.

As a matter of fact, economic development worldwide is entirely dependent on the interactions between energy and economy systems, where our dependence on clean and renewable energy becomes more and more confirmed. Energy Economics could be defined as a branch of economic studies devoted to quantitatively and qualitatively deciphering our well-being and prosperity in their interaction with energy resources.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, by 2050, the overall total investment in the energy system would need to reach USD 110 trillion (around 2% of average annual GDP over this period), the level of extra investments required to set the world on a more climate-friendly path above current plans and policies, is USD 15 trillion. The share of renewables in the world's total final energy consumption has to increase six times faster to match up to agreed climate goals, precisely, the seventh Sustainable Development Goal, which states for ensuring that everyone will be able to have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. For that, international financial flows to developing countries, in support of clean and renewable energy, reached USD 18.6 billion in 2016, almost doubling from USD 9.9 billion in 2010. This trend is likely to increase due to the promising opportunities offered by a steady decline in renewable energy production costs, leading to lower prices.

So far, in some countries, oceans and seas still the primary sources of conventional energy (oil, gas), despite their richness in marine renewable energies (offshore energy): traditional marine renewable energies (ocean wind energy and ocean solar energy), wave energy and tidal energy, as specific forms of marine (ocean) power. Also, knowing that ocean-based renewable energy has not yet achieved the economies of scale necessary for significant cost reductions, but, as oceans and seas cover more than 70 % of the Earth’s surface, it's not surprising that a large share of future energy production will probably come from ocean-based renewable energy. To show the potential energy glut, published studies have shown that the ocean wind energy potential is so significant and large enough that it could, theoretically, be used to propel human civilization.

Morocco took up the challenge of increasing green renewable energy production from total renewable energy to 52 % by 2030, initially set at 42 % by 2020. This specific achievement becomes a reality thanks to the adoption of an ambitious energy strategy, including generating renewable energies in Moroccan deserts: The Solar Complex (Noor) in Ouarzazate, the largest wind farm in Africa located in the coastal desert of the city of Tarfaya, and last but not least, the project to be implemented in the Sahara of the Dakhla region, aiming to generate renewable and clean energy, from wind, this wind energy will be used in mining the cryptocurrencies based on Blockchain technology, such as the Bitcoin.

Dr. Elouali AAILAL : President and Coordinator of the International Congress on Desert Economy - Dakhla. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.

Themes:
As the International Congress on Desert Economy - Dakhla, is an interdisciplinary scientific research platform on the desert and arid regions, and due to the lack in economic and scientific literature on deserts, arid zones, and the Sahara, there will be a variety of themes, and contributions will focus mainly on one of the following (non-exhaustive) themes:
1. Trans-Saharan Megaprojects and Initiatives (Trans-African):
• The DESERTEC Project;
• The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative;
• The Trans Africa Pipeline Project (Bringing Water to the Great Sahara and the Sahel);
• The " Power Africa " Initiative;
• The " Desert to Power " Initiative;
• The " Dakhla Atlantic Port" Project;
• The Morocco - Nigeria Gas Pipeline;
• The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA (Africa's Silk Road );
• The United States of America's Initiative: " Prosper Africa ";
• The MENA and China’s Belt and Road Initiative BRI (China's new silk road and maritime Silk Road).
2. Regional and Inter-African Economic Cooperation and Partnerships in the Sahara and the Sahel.
3. International Cooperation on Arid Lands Scientific Research and Development (R&D on deserts and the Sahara).
4. Business, Entrepreneurship, and Investments in Arid Lands (Deserts, Sahara) and Remote Rural Areas.
5. Energy Business, Entrepreneurship in Energy, and Energy Management.
6. Energy, Desertification, Climate Change (Resilience and Adaptation), and Environment.
7. Renewable Energy and Energy Transition.
8. Offshore Renewable Energy, Marine Wind Energy and Marine Solar Energy (Ocean Power).
9. Wave Energy and Tidal Energy.
10. Low Carbon Energy: Power-to-X and Green Hydrogen (economic, social, and environmental aspects).
11. Deserts (Arid lands, Sahara), the Economics of Space (Space Economy), and Space Industry.
12. Deserts (Arid lands, Sahara) and Global Economic Transformation.
13. The Economics of Water, Energy, and Hydraulic Resources Management.
14. Energy Supply and Demand.
15. Energy Crisis Management, Energy Risk Management, and the Impacts of Coronavirus Crisis on Energy Sector (Pre-crisis, during, and Post Covid-19 crisis).
16. Access to Energy and Energy Security.
17. Conventional Energy Resources: Oil (Hydrocarbures), Gas, and Coal.
18. Energy in Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality Industry.
19. Energy in Agribusiness, Aquabusiness (aquaculture), and Fisheries Business (Halieutic).
20. Drought, Water Scarcity Management, and the Opening up of Remote Rural Arid Regions.
21. Energy and Food Security in Drylands, Arid Agriculture (Desert Agriculture), Biosaline Agriculture, Precision Agriculture, and Irrigation Rationalization (economic, social and environmental aspects).
22. Livestock Economics, Management, and Production (Camels, Sheep, Cows…).
23. Agricultural Economics (rural economics).
24. Sustainable Mobility (Ecomobility), Transportation, LogisticsandSupply Chain Management.
25. Energy Economics Modeling.
26. Energy Policy, Law, and Regulation.
27. New Technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain...) and Energy Efficiency (economic, social and environmental aspects).
28. Sustainable Off-Grid Electricity for Rural and Remote (arid) Areas, and Poverty Reduction.
29. Economic Geology and Economic Geography.
30. Arid Lands (Deserts and the Sahara) Tourism (Ecotourism, Nature Tourism, Sustainable Tourism), Travel, and Hospitality Industry.
31. Ocean Economy, Sea Economy (Maritime), and Blue Economy.
32. Economics and Management of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
33. Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality Industry (Tourism Economics).
34. Sports Economy, Water (nautical) Sports Management, and Recreation Economy.
35. Cultural Entrepreneurship and Management of Tangible and Intangible Heritage (Arts, Creative Industries and Music Industry, Traditional Crafts, and Artisans).
36. Green Economy, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development.
37. Social and Solidarity Economy, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
38. Public Policy (Planning and Spatial Development), Regional Development (Territorial Development) and Rural Development (Rural Entrepreneurship), Development of Oases and Remote Areas.
39. Public/Private Investment and Business Climate.
40. International Collaboration and Trade Logistics.
41. Migrations and SDGs.
42. Management, Governance, and Sustainability Issues.
43. Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Innovation.
44. Knowledge Economy and Human Capital.
45. Finance and Financial System.
46. Digital Economy.
47. Economic Intelligence.


Organizing committee.
Dr. Elouali AAILAL: President and Coordinator of the International Congress on Desert Economy. Dakhla. President of the " Desert Action " Association, Dakhla. Morocco.
Members:
• Elouali Aailal. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Aziz Sair. Director of the National School of Business and Management, ENCG Dakhla. Morocco.
• Juan Manuel Benitez. Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain.
• Kaoutar Roussi. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Hassane Amaazoul. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Hajar El Moukhi. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Lamiae El Kahri, Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Mehdi Boutaounte. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Youssef Hanyf. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Lahoucine Assellam. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.
• Salek Riadi. Research Professor at the EST of Laâyoune.
• Mohamed Er-Raji. Research Professor at the ENCG of Dakhla.

Scientific committee.
• Assia BenSalah Alaoui. The Orientation Council of the Royal Institute of Strategic Studies (IRES)-Rabat. The Association «Leaders for Peace». The Moroccan-British Society. The Moroccan-Japanese Friendship Association. Morocco.
• Aziz Sair. Director of the National School of Business and Management, ENCG Dakhla. Morocco.
• Keith W. Martin. Founding member of The Sahara Spirit Foundation. Morocco. Member of the Rotary International committee. United States.
• Sharon Megdal. President of the International Arid Lands Consortium. Director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC). Arizona. United States.
• Paul Van Son. President & CEO of the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative. Desert Energy. Honorary President of the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET). Germany.
• Nasir El Bassam. Director of the International Renewable Energy Research Center. United States. Chairman of the World Renewable Energy Council. Germany.
• Brian Sandoval. President of the University of Nevada, Reno. Former Governor of the State of Nevada. United States.
• Ghaleb Alhadrami. Provost & Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University. United Arab Emirates.
• Alan Gertler. Vice President of Research at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno. Director of the Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy Center. Nevada. United States.
• Jean Luc Chotte. President of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification (CSFD). Research Director at the Research Institute for Development, IRD. France.
• Juan Manuel Benitez. Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain.
• James Smith. President-elect of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE). Southern Methodist University. Texas. United States.
• Roderick Tennyson. Co-Founder and President of the Trans Africa PipelineInc (TAP). Institute for Aerospace Studies, University of Toronto. Canada.
• Mustapha Taoumi. Clean Energy Key Expert at EU GCC, CETN III. UAE. Former regional officer for MENA region at The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Morocco.
• Carmelo Rodriguez Torreblanca. President of the University of Almería. Spain.
• Hillard Huntington. Director of the Energy Modeling Forum. Stanford University. California. United States.
• Jimmy Cocking. CEO of the Arid Lands Environment Center. Vice President of the Australian Conservation Foundation. Director of the Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA). Australia.
• Johan Hollander. World Maritime University (WMU), Global Ocean Institute, and International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Sweden.
• Mustapha Naimi. University Institute of Scientific Research, Rabat. Morocco.
• Ousmane Dramé. President of the Ahmed Baba University (UPAB). President of the Coalition for Higher Education in Mali. Commissioner for the governance of the International Network of Higher Education Institutions of the CAMES Area. Mali.
• Bernard Faye. Founder and the first President of The International Society of Camelid Research and Development (ISOCARD). Camelologist at The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). France.
• Mubarak Abdalla. Director of the Desertification and Desert Cultivation Studies Institute. Deputy Dean of Agricultural and Veterinary Studies, University of Khartoum. Sudan.
• Poul Alberg Østergaard. Director of the Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Program. Aalborg University. Denmark.
• Gabriel del Barrio. Experimental Station of Arid Zones, Almería. The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Spain.
• Mahamat Saleh Daoussa Haggar. President of the University of N'Djaména. Chad.
• André Torre. Director at MSH Paris-Saclay University. Research Director at the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA). President of the European Regional Science Association (ERSA). France.
• Sergio Moreno Gil. Co-Director of International Relations at UNESCO Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain.
• Maureen McCarthy. Tahoe & Great Basin Research Director, University of Nevada. Research Faculty at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno. Nevada. United States.
• Christoph Lütge. Director of the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence. Technical University of Munich. Germany. Former Visiting Researcher at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. United States.
• Najat El Mekkaoui. University Paris Dauphine. France. Board member of the Moroccan Central Bank (Bank Al-Maghrib), Chairman of the Social Funds Steering Committee. Morocco.
• El Moustapha Sidi Mohamed. Director of the Higher Institute of Accounting and Business Administration, ISCAE. Mauritania.
• Aykut Olcer. Head of Maritime Energy Management. World Maritime University. Sweden.
• Kader Kaneye. Founder and President of the African Development University. Niger.
• Romila Verma. Founder and Director of the Trans Africa Pipeline Inc (TAP). University of Toronto. Canada. ISMARE Environmental. India.
• Niels Vestergaard. Director of the Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Economics (FAME). University of Southern Denmark. Denmark.
• Latifa Lankaoui. Member of the Board of Directors of the “Forum d'Echanges et de Rencontres Administratifs Mondiaux (FERAM)”, FSJES Souissi, Mohammed V University, Rabat. Morocco.
• Nishanov Nariman. Economist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). National Project Coordinator of FAO at the Central Asia Desert Initiative (CADI). Uzbekistan.
• Heriberto Suárez. Institute of Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain.
• Jinlong Ma. University of Melbourne, Australia. Vice president at APEC Sustainable Energy Centre, Tianjin University. China.
• Houcine Khatteli. General Director of the Institute of Arid Regions, Tunisia.
• Hassan Ramou. Institute of African Studies (IEA), Rabat.
• Abdou Maisharou. General Director of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel. Niger.
• Ole Kristian Sivertsen. CEO at Desert Control. Norway.
• Andreas Walmsley. Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, University of Iceland. Iceland. Coventry University. United Kingdom.
• Khaled Sharbatly. “ Desert Technologies ”. Saudi Arabia.
• Juan Luis García. Director of the Atacama Desert Center. Faculty of History, Geography and Political Science. Chile.
• Lhasan Elmrani. President of the Center for Studies and Development of Oasis and Desert Territories. Errachidia.
• Julius Gatune. The African Center for Economic Transformation. South Africa.
• Aicha Oujaa. National Institute of Sciences of Archeology and Heritage, Rabat.
• Hanaa Hachimi. President of the Moroccan Society of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Director of the Systems Engineering Laboratory. Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal.
• Abdelbassat Elhajoui.Educational Program Director at the Sports Management School (SMS). Rabat.
• Celestin Christian Tsala Tsala. University of Yaoundé I. Cameroon.
• Ouafae Ouariti Zerouali. ENCG, Agadir.
• Fatima Arib. Director of ACISS, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech.
• Najat Ouaaline. FST, Hassan I University, Settat.
• Asmae Bouaouinate. FLSH, Mohammedia.
• Hamid Nechad. ENCG, Tangier.
• Jamila Saidi. FLSH, Mohammedia.
• Oumhani Eddelani. FSJES, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez.
• Mounir Jerry. FSJES, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra.
• Aimad Elhajri.FSJES, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech.
• Ghita El Kasri. Co-Founder of Blockchain Embassy and Schoonect, EdTech for students’ engagement. Casablanca
• Seedou Mukhtar Sonko. Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor. Senegal.
• Kaoutar Roussi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Hassane Amaazoul. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Hajar El Moukhi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Mehdi Boutaounte. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Youssef Hanyf. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Lamiae El Kahri. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Lahoucine Assellam.ENCG, Dakhla.
• Fadoua Lemsagued. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Mohammed El Amrani. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Asmae El Hidani. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Salek Riadi. EST, Laâyoune.
• Mohamed Er-Raji. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Aziz Hantem. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Chahida El Idrissi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Ouafae Bouchaf. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Sheikh Mohamed Maoulainine. Regional Director of the High Planning Commission, Dakhla.
• Bathily Diahara. University of Law and Political Science of Bamako. Mali.
• Abdellah El Boussadi. ENCG, Casablanca.
• Abdelkarim Asdiou. ENCG, Casablanca.