The first National Forum on "Advanced regionalisation and territorial development in Morocco" opened on Wednesday in Khouribga, at the initiative of the Laboratory for Research in Territorial, Environmental and Energy Development, in coordination with the Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga.

This forum, whose opening was marked by the presence of academics and researchers, aims for a better understanding of the orientations that found the creation of territorial equality within the framework of advanced regionalisation and a sharing of experiences and expertise in the field. This scientific event is also intended to be an opportunity to present their scientific projects on the matter, in order to enrich debates, to demystify the concept of "advanced regionalisation", and to accompany the changes in the Moroccan territory, following the new regional division. Advanced regionalisation, which represents the major national project, takes on particular importance because it constitutes a new approach to the territorial management of all territorial collectivities, particularly the region, indicated the president of the Laboratory for Research in Territorial, Environmental and Energy Development, Said Essaghir, who was speaking at the opening of this meeting.

This project is also intended to be a new philosophy that serves to face the constraints of managing local affairs and a support for winning the bets of local development, specified Mr. Essaghir. The interest given by researchers and geographers to the subject of the region is not fortuitous, knowing that regionalisation falls within the domain of geography and given its importance in economic, social, and political development strategies and plans, he added. The forum focuses on several axes relating to advanced regionalisation and territorial re-division, the effectiveness of the division in creating territorial governance, and its role in promoting regions and strengthening their competitiveness. This scientific event aims to study advanced regionalisation and the bets of local development, in order to develop marginalised territories that suffer from certain imbalances hindering the achievement of sustainable development. This conference also focuses on the prospects for solidarity between regions within the framework of the advanced regionalisation process.