H.M. the King thus proceeded to the launch of the first phase of the upgrading programme for the strategic axes of the road network in the Tadla Azilal region and to the inauguration of the Khouribga-Beni Mellal motorway, which is 95 kilometres long. Mobilising investments of around 770 million dirhams (MDH), the first phase of the upgrading programme for the strategic axes of the region's road network provides for the reinforcement of 18 kilometres of roads (30 MDH), the construction of 22 km (20 MDH), the dualisation of 21 km (200 MDH) and the widening of 219 km (520 MDH). The programme for upgrading the strategic axes of the Tadla Azilal region's road network is part of a global plan extending over the 2014-2018 period, aiming to connect the major cities of the region to the Berrechid-Beni Mellal motorway, to improve traffic conditions on the region's strategic road axes, to reduce travel costs and time, and to promote economic and tourist activities in the region. On this occasion, H.M. the King presided over the signing ceremony of the partnership agreement for the implementation of the upgrading programme for the strategic axes of the Tadla Azilal region's road network. It was signed by Mr Mohamed Hassad, Minister of the Interior, Mr Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr Aziz Rebbah, Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, Mr Mohamed Fanid, Wali of the Tadla Azilal region, Governor of the Beni Mellal province, and Mr Saleh El Hamzaoui, President of the Tadla-Azilal Regional Council. It was also signed by the Governor of the Fquih Ben Saleh province, Mr Noureddine Ouaâbbou, the Governor of the Azilal Province, Mr Hassan Aboulâouane, the President of the Beni Mellal Provincial Council, Mr Abdelghani El Mekkaoui, the President of the Fquih Ben Saleh Provincial Council, Mr Kamal Mahfoud, and the President of the Azilal Provincial Council, Mr Khella Essaidi. Subsequently, H.M. the King proceeded to the inauguration of the Khouribga-Beni Mellal motorway (2.8 billion DH), a structuring project that accompanies the economic and social development experienced by the Tadla-Azilal region and neighbouring regions, and contributes to the promotion of several economic sectors (agriculture, agro-industry and tourism). As an integral part of the global project for the construction of the Berrechid-Beni Mellal motorway (172 km), launched on 12 April 2010 by H.M. the King, the Khouribga-Beni Mellal motorway brings this entire area closer to the country's main economic hubs and connects them via modern infrastructure offering a very high level of quality, safety and service capacity. It will thus accelerate, directly or indirectly, the development of all the regions crossed or served, notably the Tadla plain, the High Atlas mountains (Azilal), and even beyond, the Middle Atlas (Khénifra). The result of a partnership between the Société Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the government of the People's Republic of China, the Khouribga-Beni Mellal motorway brings the operational motorway network to 1,511 km while offering users infrastructure that meets international standards. The Tadla-Azilal region is thus endowed with high-level infrastructure that strengthens its connectivity with the other regions of the kingdom and contributes to its global and integrated development.