These projects seek to ensure water pollution control, permanent protection of the Marchica lagoon and to meet the need in liquid sanitation of a population estimated at 245,000 in eight municipalities of Nador.
They are part of a comprehensive program to protect and develop the lagoon which is one of the main components of the provinces' sustainable development goals.
In addition to its ecological importance, this plan aspires to promote tourism activity in the region.
On this occasion, the monarch inaugurated the Marchica lagoon pollution control project, carried out for an amount of 437 million dirhams (48.9 million dirhams). This project provides for the setting up of 46km-waste water pipes and the construction of five pumping stations. Equipment will allow for the treatment of mud and odours and the production of reusable water for irrigation purposes.
Set to be ready by 2011, this project includes the installation of a network to collect used water on an area of 293km and the construction and equipment of three pumping stations.
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HM the King Inaugurates, Launches Drinking Water Supply Projects in Nador, Driouch
Beni Sidel Jbel (Nador) - HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated and launched here on Monday several drinking water supply projects benefiting the north-eastern provinces of Nador and Driouch, for a total cost of 147 million dirhams (16.4 million dollars).
On this occasion, the sovereign inaugurated drinking two water supply projects, worth 107 million dirhams (11.9 million dollars), which will benefit 144,000 people in the province of Nador.
The first project, to be completed for a total cost of 27 million dirhams, is meant to increase production to reach a flow-rate of 150 liters/s (13,000 m3/day) at the Nador treatment station.
The second project, worth 80 million dirhams, is part of the action plan of the national water supply utility (ONEP) which aspires to bring access to drinking water in rural areas to 99% by 2012.
On the same occasion, HM King Mohammed VI launched a drinking water supply project, worth 40 million dirhams, which will benefit 13,000 in the rural commune of Aïn Zohra, the province of Driouch.
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HM the King Addresses Message to the 25th France-Africa Summit
Nice (France) - HM King Mohammed VI addressed a message to the 25th France-Africa summit which opened Monday in Nice.
Here follows the full text of the message:
Praise be to God
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet His Kith and Kin
Mr. President
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to see the African family and France gathering once again. The Kingdom of Morocco wishes to reiterate its commitment to this forum which champions brotherhood and solidarity.
This meeting in Nice is highly symbolic of our shared history. Many African countries are commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of their independence this year.
Indeed, 1960 ushered in a new dawn for seventeen African countries, 2010 marks half a decade of freedom and national sovereignty. This period has also been characterized by endeavours to ensure that Africa enjoys dignity and prosperity, that our continent continues to evolve and that it meets the requirements of today's world.
Inspired by a common history and guided not only by cultural and human values, but also by a shared vision of the future, the relationship between Africa and France is built upon shared faith in Africa, a continent that is deeply committed to its identity and rich cultural heritage; a continent that is vibrant and that looks confidently to the future.
This exceptional relationship was built on the rock-solid foundation of friendship, solidarity and shared development.
It is up to us to safeguard and preserve the specificity of our relationship in order to rise to countless challenges and turn our partnership into real opportunities for trade, growth and progress for ail.
In a few decades, Africa has undergone profound changes. The Africa-France partnership has developed significantly, revealing the exceptional dynamism of our relationship and its ability to adjust to new situations.
Over the years, our partnership's original set-up has expanded to include new African countries. New players have also been brought in. Today, the involvement of the business community - particularly civic-minded corporations and businesses - is not only a powerful engine of development, growth and job-creation in Africa, but it is also a factor that contributes to developing a stronger partnership.
Similarly, the themes and topics we address have become more diversified in a bid not only to adapt to a changing international environment, but also to assert Africa's role in tackling global issues and to show that it is on the path towards progress.
It is our responsibility to ensure that the framework of our partnership is constantly revamped and renovated so that we may act together efficiently in an ever-changing world.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At a time when the international agenda is constantly shifting and the world is seeking better global governance. Africa and France, guided by common interests, should ponder on the joint actions to be taken.
The impact of climate change, the issues of peace and security and our continent's role in global governance are key challenges that deserve our undivided attention.
Needless to say, Africa's natural resources are the continent’s principal asset. Sadly, however, they are being squandered due to over-exploitation, plundering and wasteful practices and are also suffering from the adverse effects of climate change. Environmental issues have thus become a major, global concern.
The deterioration of ecosystems, the scarcity of resources and the increasing problem of drought contribute to provoking or hastening political and social crises as well as instability in some countries even in entire regions.
Sustainable environmental management must revolve around local and national initiatives and ought to be addressed through sound, regional strategies that must be part of a new global environmental governance policy.
In this regard, the Kingdom of Morocco considers that the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration was an important step towards the consensual formulation of an efficient global environmental order: this measure should be reinforced at the next meeting in Mexico, in November.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our continent is undergoing profound transformations. Africa is progressing. Africa is taking its destiny into its own hands.
With a 5% average growth rate over the last few years, Africa is on the path towards Development, particularly in such sectors as infrastructure, new information technologies, renewable energies and tourism.
Obviously, Africa is the land of fabulous economic opportunities that need to be exploited through equitable international partnerships.
This business potential would be even larger if inter-African relations were to be expanded in terms of trade, communications and investment, particularly through effective, proactive sub-regional integration.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Needless to say, development in Africa hinges upon the consolidation of regional peace, stability and security.
It also requires greater democracy, participatory approaches and the implementation of the principles of good governance.
Development also requires that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states be preserved and their social cohesion safeguarded.
Finally, development requires that disputes be settled through consensual, peaceful means based on the principles of good neighbourliness and African brotherhood.
This is why, today, African countries are fully committed to the task of conflict prevention, crisis management and peace-building in our continent, which is facing a new type of security threat.
Besides the traditional perils arising from armed conflicts between or within states, the world is now facing new, dangerous and complex trans-national phenomena such as organized crime, piracy, terrorism and all sorts of trafficking.
Given the global nature of these threats, collective, concerted responses are needed. The fact that Africa is taking the management of these risks and crises into its own hands is a promising development that deserves to be encouraged. To be efficient, however, Africa must not circumvent the principle of the indivisibility of peace, nor ignore the provisions of the UN Charter or the principles of international legality.
In this regard, Prance's policy and its unwavering commitment alongside the African continent have helped forge a partnership model dedicated to upholding the values of peace and serving our common interests.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Considering Africa's economic potential, the large number of African states and their increasing involvement in global peace and security, our continent deserves a higher standing on the world stage.
Its voice should be heard more, and its ambitions duly taken into account.
That is what fairness, equitable representation and legitimacy are all about.
Above all, Africa's representation in international institutions must not be reduced to a mere question of prestige or national ambition,
To be credible and sustainable, African representation should, instead, reflect the continent's diversity and be based on the principle of rotation between African regional groupings, which are all equally representative of the ethical values, concerns and expectations of Africa.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Kingdom of Morocco places the Continent to which it belongs at the core of its external policy.
Morocco, which prides itself on having stood by all genuine liberation movements as soon as it regained its own independence, seeks today to strengthen the foundations of a vibrant, solidarity-based African partnership designed to promote sustainable development.
Through forward-looking national initiatives and the rallying of all the stakeholders concerned, Morocco is on its way towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Human resources are the cornerstone of our strategy to achieve socio-economic development. They are also at the heart of the partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and African countries to attain the all-important objective of human development.
In recent years, this exemplary South-South cooperation mechanism, about which the Moroccan people cares deeply, has grown stronger in the traditional areas of training and technical cooperation.
We have keenly sought to promote this kind of cooperation with a large number of sister African nations, especially in basic social service sectors. We have, at the same time, striven to expand it to productive investment sectors, to air and sea transport and to finance and banking services, in which public and private companies are involved more often.
I want to underscore the special importance my country attaches to the additional opportunities that could arise from the consolidation of our triangular cooperation, in which one party's contribution supplements another side's expertise for the implementation of concrete projects that benefit a third party among African populations.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The deep, sweeping changes that have had an impact on international relations in recent years have not affected France's commitment towards African countries. The convening of this well-timed meeting attests to the interest African states take in their relationship with our friend, France.
Unburdened by the past, premised on shared responsibility and effective solidarity, this win-win relationship serves the interests of the sons of Africa just as much as those of the French people.
There-is no doubt in my mind that this unique, special partnership will continue to evolve and grow, in a climate of mutual esteem and deep commitment to a common future.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatulah wabarakatuh.
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HM the King congratulates Benabdallah, New Head of Progress and Socialism Party (PPS)
Rabat - HM King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to Nabil Benabdallah, who was elected on Monday new Secretary General of the Progress and Socialism party (PPS).
In this message, the Sovereign congratulated the new PPS Secretary General on the confidence placed in him by his party in its 8th national conference.
The sovereign also commended Benabdellah’s sincere patriotism and commitment to serve the supreme interests of the nation.