This consultative meeting aims to share the general framework of the second edition of the National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation with territorial actors and to consolidate the participatory approach in all stages of preparation for this conference.
In a speech on the occasion, the Wali of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region and Governor of the Guelmim province, Mohamed Najem Abhay, confirmed that the advanced regionalisation project constitutes today a fundamental entry point for developing the institutional and political development of the State, consolidating its democratic path, and accelerating its development, adding that this project has been accompanied by several deep constitutional, political, and administrative reforms because it is not just an administrative division, but a project aimed at deep changes in the structure of the State.
Mr. Abhay highlighted that this project has taken decisive steps, especially after the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, which established the position of the region and other local authorities as a key actor in promoting integrated and sustainable development based on democracy, effectiveness, and participation, noting that in this context, legal and regulatory texts have been issued that provided an integrated legal arsenal for implementing the constitutional principles framing advanced regionalisation.
He added that the current stage requires an evaluative and participatory pause for the results of implementing this project, especially regarding the activation of the recommendations resulting from the first edition of the National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation held in Agadir in December 2019, adding that the second edition of this conference will be an opportunity to present the results of implementing advanced regionalisation with the participation of elected officials, actors, and national and international partners, and to shed light on the achievements made with the aim of valuing them and deepening the discussion on the constraints facing the optimal implementation of this national project.
The Wali of the region highlighted that this meeting at the level of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region is an opportunity for regional actors to express their opinions and propose their recommendations in order to deepen the discussion on the axes included in the agenda of the second conference and contribute to its success.
For her part, the President of the Guelmim-Oued Noun Regional Council, Mbarka Bouaida, confirmed that the goal of this consultative meeting on advanced regionalisation is to open a discussion at the regional level, consolidate participatory democracy and the culture of listening, and adopt important proposals in the next stage of this national project, noting that this consultative meeting falls within the framework of preparations for organising the second edition of the National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation.
Ms. Bouaida indicated that this meeting is attended by all political, economic, and administrative actors and civil society in order to frame and raise proposals on the stakes of advanced regionalisation, adding that among the most important of these stakes are territorial attractiveness, financing, investment, and job creation, in addition to climatic constraints.
After confirming that advanced regionalisation is a strategic royal project that enjoys priority, Ms. Bouaida highlighted that Morocco is in the process of implementing the second phase of advanced regionalisation, as the first phase of this project concerned the implementation of legal and regulatory provisions as well as the organisation and structuring of the regions, then the second phase, which began in 2021, as Morocco entered a new stage, which is the stage of activation and acceleration of this project.
For his part, the Secretary General for Regional Affairs in Guelmim-Oued Noun, Ahmed El Bah, highlighted that this consultative meeting is an occasion to inform participants about the programme of the second National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation, noting that advanced regionalisation is a fundamental entry point for institutional construction and upgrading the regional system from an emerging regionalisation to an advanced regionalisation with democratic content.
This consultative meeting resulted in a number of outputs and recommendations that emerged from the discussions and thematic workshops, including, in particular, re-administrative division and grouping a number of communes into one commune, the necessity of distinguishing between the competencies exercised by the State through ministries and the competencies of the regions, and stipulating the mandatory exercise of priority competencies for the regions, among others.
It is noteworthy that this regional meeting was attended by the Secretaries General of the provinces of Sidi Ifni, Tan-Tan, and Assa-Zag, elected officials, heads of external services, representatives of professional bodies, academics, and civil society actors.
The second edition of the National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation, which will be organised by the Ministry of the Interior in partnership with the Association of Regions of Morocco, is a key station for deepening the discussion and exchanging views on current and future challenges, and the extent of this project's contribution to achieving economic, social, and cultural development in Morocco.
