The inhabitants of the city of Béni Mellal and the surrounding regions gave a most enthusiastic and warm welcome to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who arrived this afternoon in the capital of the Tadla-Azilal region, from Casablanca. Thousands of people of all ages gathered along the route taken by the royal procession, from Béni Mellal airport, to cheer the Sovereign and welcome him. Folk and fantasia troupes enlivened the atmosphere of popular celebration and rejoicing, on the occasion of this blessed visit, which fills all the populations of this part of the Kingdom with happiness. Throughout the route taken by the royal procession, decked out in national colours and richly decorated with portraits of H.M. the King, banners were displayed blessing the royal visit and reiterating the expression of loyalty, fidelity and unwavering attachment of the population of the Tadla-Azilal region to the august person of the Sovereign and the Glorious Alaouite Throne. It was in an atmosphere of communion that the inhabitants of Béni Mellal chanted in unison cheers for H.M. the King, Amir Al Mouminine, expressing their deep gratitude to the Sovereign for this blessed visit which constitutes a new stage on the path to the city's development, in line with the major socio-economic development projects opened in all the regions of the Kingdom. Upon his arrival in the region, His Majesty King Mohammed VI proceeded to the inauguration of the new Béni Mellal airport after reconstruction and redevelopment work that required a budget of 195.5 million dirhams (MDH). This structuring project, the result of a partnership between the National Airports Office (128 MDH) and the Tadla-Azilal Regional Council (67.5 MDH), is part of the actions carried out by the Sovereign in favour of opening up and improving the accessibility of the Tadla-Azilal region, while ensuring its global, balanced and sustainable development.