Morocco: An Ambitious Model Of Development For Southern Provinces – OpEd

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During his current visit to Laayoune, King Mohammed VI launched a series of key projects to improve infrastructure in the southern provinces. 77 billion dirhams are allocated to all those projects that seek to create centers of competitiveness and relies on main pillars as economic development, social promotion, good governance, sustainability and reinforcement of good governance. The new model of development was hailed by local media as well by the inhabitants of the southern provinces. Everybody was looking forward to the launching of those great projects that will give the inhabitants the opportunity to see and greet the King. However, the personal physician of King Mohammed VI prescribed a suspension of the sovereign’s activities for 10 to 15 days after that HM the King contracted a severe flu syndrome during the recent royal visit to India, said on Tuesday a statement by HM the King’s personal physician.

“During the recent royal visit to India, HM King Mohammed VI have contracted a severe flu syndrome which worsened during the sovereign’s current trip to the city of Laayoune,” said the statement.

“Following the evolution of this flu syndrome with bronchopulmonary and oropharyngeal symptoms, mainly a loss of the voice, HM the King’s personal physician prescribed a suspension of the sovereign’s activities for of period of 10 to 15 days,” it added

So the monarch’s activities will be suspended for a while but for sure he will resume his visit to the southern provinces to launch those projects that aim to provide for the restructuring of the phosphate sector through the project “Phosboucraa for industrial development”, the promotion of the agricultural and fisheries sector and the development of environment-friendly tourism. A brand new University Hospital Center will be built in Laayoune and a town with high-tech industrial facilities in Foum El Oued, and promoting the Hassani culture to make it a lever for local development. Protection of water and fisheries resources, development of renewable energy, preservation of diversity and natural systems, and the reinforcement of the southern provinces’ connection with the Kingdom’s provinces and prefectures as well as with the rest of the world are also on the top agenda.

These new projects, launched during the historic visit King Mohammed VI is making to the Sahara on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Green March celebrated last Friday, aim to make of the Sahara provinces a gateway to West Africa.

Morocco which has started implementing the advanced regionalization process in the Southern provinces, part of its desire to increase, as put by the King, “the chances of finding a lasting solution to the artificial dispute over our territorial integrity,” Moreover, the advanced regionalization is also the Moroccan perception of a solution to the dispute. Indeed, the advanced regionalization in Morocco provided in the constitutional reform is a “transitional stage” to the Sahara autonomy. Implementation of advanced regionalization in Morocco is the complement of the Moroccan offer combined dynamic and sustainable Sahara conflict.will conclude a series of program-contracts between the central government and the regions to determine each party’s obligations regarding the execution of development projects. So for the southern provinces, a new, ambitious, environmentally sustainable and socially equitable growth model that would be in line with constitutional requirements as well as with the commitments made by Morocco with respect to promoting democracy and advanced regionalization.

The Green March 40th anniversary with the royal speech, the landmark projects and the encounter between the King and the inhabitants of Laâyoune sent a clear message to the international community: Now, Morocco is in its Sahara or as put by King Mohammed VI, “Morocco will remain in its Sahara, and the Sahara will remain part of Morocco, until the end of time.”

Said Temsamani

Said Temsamani is a Moroccan political observer and consultant, who follows events in his country and across North Africa. He is a member of Washington Press Club.

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