King Mohammed VI: Advanced regionalization, lever for economic & social Development; challenges remain
King Mohammed VI has called on all stakeholders to double efforts in order to make advanced regionalization a lever for economic and social development that can help address development challenges, unequal growth, and regional disparities.
The Monarch’s call comes in a message addressed Friday to participants at the 2nd National Conference on Advanced Regionalization, convening in Tangier Dec.20-21.
In this message, read out by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, the Monarch said this 2nd conference builds on what has been achieved with respect to implementing advanced regionalization, and to consolidate positive interaction between all the stakeholders concerned – including government officials, representatives of public institutions and elected officials.
The strategic character of the advanced regionalization process requires greater involvement of the parties concerned in a process based on consultation and constructive dialogue for the gradual implementation of advanced regionalization, until this plan is executed in full, said the royal message.
The King called for more efforts to tackle current and future challenges posed by this flagship project, citing in this regard the challenge of the actual implementation of the National Charter for Administrative Devolution and the issue of clearly determining and implementing the powers of local governments, especially regional councils.
“I therefore call for the adoption of a comprehensive approach in which the ministries and local governments concerned would shoulder their responsibilities so as to achieve the objectives sought from a precise determination of powers”, said the King, affirming that this is an essential entry point for the full implementation of advanced regionalization.
The Monarch also stressed the need to strengthen participatory democracy at the local and regional levels, in line with the Kingdom’s Constitution provisions.
The Moroccan Sovereign called for ensuring accountability in the management of local affairs and making regions attractive to investors in today’s globalized world facing tough competition.
To rise to this challenge, the King said it is necessary to build on a proactive strategy that seeks to enhance the regions attractiveness on several levels, including by creating a favorable business environment, offering modern infrastructure, a qualified labor force and appropriate incentives, and properly showcasing the natural resources, and the cultural and historical heritage of each region in the Kingdom.
“Such a goal necessarily requires an integrated, participatory approach”, underlined the Monarch, saying that local governments, the state, the private sector and civil society must work together to develop and implement ambitious strategies in order to enhance attractiveness, taking into account the particularities of each region.
The regions must come up with new financing mechanisms and address certain crises and adapting to today’s deep changes and to future impacts, said the Monarch, affirming that the Kingdom’s regions are capable of developing more resilient territories that can adapt to change more effectively, face crises, and rise to current and future challenges.
The issues facing the regions include water stress management, the development of the transport and mobility infrastructure, and engaging in the digital transition, said the Moroccan Sovereign.
In view of the major challenges facing the country and considering the ambitions and strategic objectives set by the state, developing a comprehensive, sustainable transportation system has become a basic requirement for the achievement of integrated local and regional development, said the Monarch, calling on participants to come up with a clear, consensual roadmap with strategic guidelines for the next stage for advancing regionalization.
