Converting the economic weight of the association into a strategic asset for the social development of the region: this is the ambition of the newly elected president at the head of Izdihar, the Association of Economic Operators of the Industrial Zones of Sidi Bernoussi. It was at the end of the association's general assembly that M’Hamed Younès Lahlou was elected for a three-year term. The assembly also reappointed the same executive board, after the presentation of the moral and financial reports for the 2011 financial year. Results judged positive by the assembly, given the achievements and their socio-economic and social impact on the region. This is the fruit of the coordination of the association's three working commissions: "infrastructure and slums", "social and training" and "upgrading, energy and environment".
"Through its 'Infrastructure and slums' commission, the association has carried out lobbying operations with the prefecture of Sidi Bernoussi, the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development, as well as with the Casablanca district for the execution of infrastructure and security reinforcement and rehabilitation works," it is indicated at Izdihar. Result: refurbishment of 5 boulevards in the zone, thanks to an envelope of 15 MDH granted by the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development.
In parallel, in collaboration with the landowners, Izdihar has been active in relocation operations for people living in the surrounding slums. Thus, 9 families were able to definitively leave the slums to settle in social apartments partially financed by the industrialists operating in the zone.
The association has also been involved, with local authorities, in projects aimed at strengthening security in the industrial zone, or even in the rehabilitation of fire hydrants and the refurbishment of fire stations. Similarly, with the financial support of the European Union, Izdihar carried out a study on the management of industrial waste.
For its part, the "upgrading, energy and environment" commission looked into the grievances of the 85 companies affected by the floods of November 2010, whose damage amounted to some 40 MDH. "The objective was to set up solidarity funds to help these companies function properly and secure jobs by avoiding stoppages," it is emphasised.
The Izdihar Association was created in 1997 with the aim of improving the overall environment of the industrial zone, fulfilling a mediator role and mobilising funding to concretise projects in various infrastructural, civic, socio-cultural and sporting fields.
It is, above all, a matter of achieving synergy between the various actors of the business park created in the 1960s and composed of the industrial zones of Ahl Loghlam, Sidi Bernoussi, Sidi Moumen, Karea and Beaulieu. Installed on an area of
1,000 ha, the park has more than 600 industrial units, including 10% of the 500 most important companies in Morocco.
It generates more than 60,000 direct jobs and nearly 150,000 indirect jobs. Today, Izdihar is a socio-economic actor that accounts for 8.21% of national GDP. Furthermore, the association is strong with its member companies that operate in all the major sectors of economic activity in the Kingdom: from the metallurgical industry to agri-food, including textiles, leather, chemistry, parachemistry, electricity or even electronics.
