Managing the water stress crisis, developing the transportation and mobility system and embracing the digital transformation process are among the major challenges to overcome for ensuring the Kingdom’s regional development, stated King Mohammed VI.
The royal message was read by Morocco’s Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, at the 2nd National Conference on Advance Regionalization, held on December 20 and 21 in Tangier, where calls were made regarding water stress, mobility and digital transformation.
“The issue of water stress undoubtedly concerns all stakeholders, including regions and local authorities, who are called upon to show seriousness and pool their efforts to address it,” the King emphasized.
To this end, it is not only necessary to provide hydraulic equipment, important as they are, but also to establish water governance to strengthen the integrated approach to public policy in the water sector, he stated.
“This observation is all the more true as combating water stress is an essential prerequisite for sustainable territorial development,” he said, urging regions and other local authorities, “each according to their specific and shared responsibilities, along with other stakeholders in this vital sector, to launch more ambitious initiatives and programmes within the framework of the national water conservation strategy for the region, while working on its
implementation through effective procedural measures.”
Regarding the expansion of the transportation and mobility system to achieve integrated regional development, the King noted that this sector will see rapid evolution in the coming years.
“This direction is due to the increasing dynamic at work in our country as a regional hub attractive for investments and the major projects launched in the context of Morocco’s preparations for hosting the 2030 World Cup,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of developing an inclusive and sustainable transportation system, the King of Morocco indicated that it has now become an essential requirement for achieving integrated regional
development and a sine qua non condition for reducing spatial and social disparities at the territorial level.
“To achieve this, regions and local authorities are required to contribute, alongside the state to the development of this sector,” he insisted.
Discussing the digital transformation of local authorities, King Mohammed VI stressed that it is now an essential condition for these authorities to align with the ongoing technological revolution in today’s world.
“Indeed, no territorial development dynamic can be conceived without its digital counterpart, especially since we are witnessing an increased integration of digital technology in all areas of territorial management,” he said.
Reaffirming the significant interest he attaches to the strategic project of Advanced Regionalization, the King recalled that the first National Conference was an opportunity “to adopt the directive framework for the effective implementation by each region of its specific and shared competencies.”
“Based on a participatory approach, this reference framework allows for exploring avenues of cooperation and partnership among stakeholders,” he stated, adding that it has always served as a commitment for all signatory parties.
In this context, the King of Morocco expressed his hope that the second edition of these conferences would provide an opportunity “to assess the implementation of the Advanced Regionalization project and
to further foster positive interaction among all stakeholders, whether government officials, representatives of public institutions, or elected officials, around common interest issues related to the best way to carry out this project.”
“We also expect it to offer the opportunity to identify the most effective means of making Advanced Regionalization a major lever for socio-economic development,” he affirmed, noting that it would thus be possible to meet the challenges and address uneven growth and spatial disparities.
SL/sf/te/lb/gik/APA