"During the year 2013, the Urban Agency opted for a strategic planning capable of guaranteeing a sustainable balance between urbanised areas and all socio-economic components and social actors with the aim of ensuring a suitable and sustainable living environment for all," indicated Abdellatif Nahli, Director of the Marrakech Urban Agency during the Board of Directors chaired by M'hand Laenser, Minister of Urban Planning and Land Use, in the presence of Abdeslam Bikrat, Wali of the Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz region, as well as the governors of the provinces of Al Haouz and Chichaoua. "This urban planning policy has allowed us to translate this vision through the revision and consolidation of our previous achievements," he added, specifying that this orientation notably concerns the monitoring of 21 urban planning documents currently under study or in the final regulatory phase. More focused on the future development of the city, the 2014 action plan provides for the launch of eleven new studies. In terms of planning, the action of the Marrakech Urban Agency is summarised by the completion of 84 urban planning documents, 48 of which have been approved, i.e., a coverage rate of 62% in 2013. This rate was 57% in 2012, 53% in 2011, and 13% at the start of the Agency, with the objective of reaching 100% coverage in 2017. As of today, 21 documents are under study, 5 of which are at the legal stage. In parallel, 10 studies were launched in 2013 and 11 others are scheduled for 2014. "Like large agglomerations, Marrakech experienced, during the year 2013, a sustained urban dynamic, since 6,363 building permit applications were processed, 80% of which received a favourable opinion," underlines Abdellatif Nahli. And to specify: "75% of the instruction requests flowing to the Urban Agency were processed within the framework of the one-stop shop, in order to simplify administrative procedures. Similarly, 220 derogation requests were processed within the framework of the ministerial circular relating to the conditions for granting derogations in terms of urban planning, 145 of which received a favourable opinion". Within the framework of the social housing programme at 250,000 DH, 27 projects were processed, 19 of which received a favourable opinion, thus enriching the city of Marrakech with 14,743 new housing units. Moral and financial report: After the reading of the moral report for the 2013 financial year, supported by slides presented by the Agency's director, and the presentation of the financial report by the chartered accountant, the floor was given to the audience before the unanimous approval of both reports. The board of directors took place in the presence of the presidents of the municipal councils and professional chambers, regional and prefectural directors, heads of administrative and technical services, as well as the presidents of professional associations.