After Oujda and Jerada, it is the turn of the Berkane province to see its basic infrastructure strengthened by local socio-economic projects, inaugurated Monday by His Majesty the King, may God assist him. Carried out within the framework of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), the urban requalification program of Greater Berkane, and the provincial development program of the craft sector, the projects inaugurated by the Sovereign aim to improve the living environment of the inhabitants of the province, to promote the integration of young people, women, and vulnerable groups into society, and to promote the sports and craft sectors to make them levers of development. The

Sovereign thus inaugurated a youth center in Berkane and another in the rural commune of Sidi Bouhria, an education and training center for girls in the commune of Ain Reggada, a local social center in the city of Ahfir, a social center, and two local sports fields in Berkane.

Mobilizing investments of around 8.6 million dirhams (MDH), these projects, carried out within the framework of the INDH, have as objectives the promotion of cultural and socio-educational activities for young people, the fight against juvenile delinquency, the education and qualification of girls in order to facilitate their socio-economic integration, the strengthening of sports infrastructure, and the encouragement of young people to practice sports. The realization of these various projects confirms the particular interest that H.M. the King attaches to the INDH projects, by personally ensuring the monitoring of the execution and progress of these programs. It also testifies to the open and permanent character of this reign project.

The continuity of this project is also manifested through the second phase of the INDH at the level of the Berkane province (2011-2015) which will be financed by the INDH to the tune of 99.5 MDH, divided between the program to fight poverty in rural areas, the program to fight social exclusion in urban areas, the program to fight precariousness, and the transversal program. Sixty-five INDH projects have been programmed for the 2011/2012 period for a total investment of 58.3 MDH. The National Initiative for Human Development contributes to it to the tune of 32.1 million

dirhams.

The Sovereign also inaugurated the "H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan" indoor sports hall, built within the framework of the urban requalification program of Greater Berkane and aiming at strengthening sports infrastructure at the provincial level and improving the conditions for practicing sports.

It will also serve as a space for training and organizing sports activities, capable of favoring the emergence of new talents among the young generations in the field of sport. In addition to the "H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan" sports hall, the urban requalification program of Greater Berkane also provides for the redevelopment of the main boulevards of the city, the construction of the municipal slaughterhouse of Berkane, the development of the Sidi Ahmed Aberkane Park, and the upgrading of drinking water and liquid sanitation networks. With a cost of more than 270 MDH, this provincial program also covers the development of the city's entrances, the doubling of the bridge over Oued Cherraa, and the construction of the house of culture in the city of Berkane. A large part of the projects initiated within the framework of this program record an advanced rate of completion (85%).

The urban upgrading of the city of Berkane is also dependent on the realization of a road surfacing program aimed at facilitating access to the different neighborhoods and improving the living environment of the inhabitants. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, also proceeded to the inauguration of a vocational training center in the craft trades, carried out within the framework of the development program of the craft sector in the Berkane province for a budget of nearly 11 MDH. In addition to this vocational training center, the provincial development program of the craft sector provides for the construction of a craft complex intended for the promotion of the craft sector and its integration into the economic fabric, the safeguarding of certain trades, and the creation of an integrated space for the production, exhibition, and marketing of craft products.

On this occasion, H.M. the King presented honey production equipment to beekeepers from the rural communes of Rislane, Tafoughalt, and Sidi Bouhria, argan tree valorization and argan oil extraction equipment to cooperatives of Douar Mahjouba, as well as the keys to two multi-purpose minibuses, a mobile maternal health and prenatal monitoring unit, and two public works machines to rural communes of the province.

This batch of materials and equipment was acquired within the framework of the INDH for an amount of nearly 8.3 million DH.