HM the King enquires about water saving irrigation program for Souss-Massa region for over $132 mln

Aït Amira (Chtouka Ait Baha) - HM King Mohammed VI enquired, on Monday in the rural commune of Aït Amira (province of Chtouka Aït Baha), about the water saving irrigation program for the Souss-Massa region for around 1.14 billion dirhams (132.4 million dollars).
- The Sovereign gets informed of the progress of the meteorological station network for the management of citrus fruit orchards' irrigation, for an amount of 10 million dirhams.
- HM the King visits an experimental farm that uses water saving modern technology.
- Investments totaling 10.6 billion dirhams for the Souss-Massa-Draa region as part of the Green Morocco Plan.
 
     The Monarch was given details on this large-scale project benefitting 6,000 farmers and consisting in replacing traditional irrigation systems with localized drip irrigation on a surface area of 26,700 hectares, and modernizing water and agricultural equipment on 3,300 hectares.
   The program, which started in 2009 and will run until 2013 as part of the Green Morocco Plan, involves the provinces of Chtouka Ait Baha and Taroudant and the prefectures of Inzegane Ait Melloul and Agadir Ida outanane.
    The project will contribute to developing modern agriculture while encouraging rational and sustainable management of water resources. It will increase irrigation efficiency from 50 to 95%, and promote vegetables, citrus fruits and olives yearly production.
    This regional program banks on saving a 45 million cubic meters, which is the equivalent of the reservoir capacity of Al-Mokhtar Soussi dam.
    The Sovereign was informed of the progress of the meteorological station network for the management of citrus fruit orchards’ irrigation in the Souss-Massa-Draa region, for an amount of 10 million dirhams.
     This system collects and broadcasts climate data on the internet and via SMS for the benefit of 3,600 farmers.
    It provided for building a 35-meteorological station network, including fifteen already set up, as well as purchasing computer equipment necessary for data processing.
    The project, which spans 33,000 hectares of citrus fruit orchards, seeks to optimize the use of water.
     HM the King visited a 235 hectare-experimental farm which uses water saving modern technology and has an innovative system of drainage water re-use. This technique enables recovering 40% of irrigation water compared to drip irrigation and saving a yearly 2,000 cubic meters per hectare.   
   The Souss-Massa-Draa regional agricultural plan provides for investments totaling 10.6 billion dirhams for the sector’s promotion as part of the Green Morocco Plan.       

HM the King enquires in Agadir about Imam-upgrading programme

Agadir - HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, enquired on Friday in the Mohammed V mosque in Agadir, about the Imam-upgrading programme, for which an annual budget of 125 million dirhams ($14.57 mln) was earmarked, in implementation of the Ulema's Charter.

- The programme falls within the framework of the implementation of the Ulema's Charter for the reform of the religious field.

- The programme benefits 44,600 Imams (prayer leaders) under the supervision of 1,426 Ulema.
    The programme is meant to safeguard the spiritual security of the nation by undertaking Imams' and preachers' awareness-raising and training in fields relating to the doctrine so that they can properly guide worshipers and spread religious knowledge.

    This reform plan, which aims to ensure that mosques fully play their role as places of worship and spiritual guidance, takes into account the requirements of a continuous interaction with the Ulema and an adapted theoretical and practical training inspired by Fiqh attayssir (a doctrine advocating flexibility in fulfilling religious obligations).

    Under this programme, Imams from rural and urban areas will hold two meetings monthly with an Alem-supervisor appointed by the Supreme Council of Ulema. A total of 44,600 Imams from all over the kingdom will benefit from the programme with the participation of 1426 Ulema under the supervision of local Ulema Councils and the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs.

    On this occasion , Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq underlined in a presentation before HM the King, that the programme is part of the implementation of the Royal instructions set out in the Royal Speech of Ramadan 26, 1429 (September 27th, 2008).

    In this speech, HM the King gave instructions to set up a comprehensive programme to upgrade Imams in conformity with the Ulema's Charter and according to a well-defined plan under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Ulema in coordination with the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic affairs, Toufiq recalled.

    The Minister added that local Councils of Ulema, in coordination with the Ministry, elaborated comprehensive programmes to achieve the objectives set, while endeavoring to improve the administrative capacities and mobilize the required human and material resources to ensure its success.

    HM the King, Commander of the Faithful, also received a group of Ulema representing the region of Souss.

HM the King chairs signing ceremony of industrial partnership agreement between Morocco and Alstom

Agadir - HM King Mohammed VI presided, on Thursday in the Royal Palace of Agadir, over the signing ceremony of a strategic industrial partnership agreement between Morocco and the French Alstom group in the field of railway transport.

- The agreement provides for financial commitments worth 9.5 billion dirhams in the form of investments in the railway industry.

- Around 5,000 jobs will be created in the railway sector in the next 10 years.

    Signed by Industry, Trade and New Technologies Minister Ahmed Reda Chami, Equipment and Transport Minister Karim Ghellab, and Alstom's CEO Patrick Kron, the agreement provides for an active commitment of the French group to develop the railway sector in Morocco.

   Under this agreement, Alstom will, over the next ten years, purchase from Moroccan suppliers the necessary equipment for European assembly plants of rolling stock as well as railway equipment, for a total cost of six billion dirhams (535 million euros).

   The group also commits to invest in a new industrial unit whose exports during the same period will reach 3.5 billion dirhams (310 million euros), and to conclude a contract with an offshoring company based in Morocco to create 65 jobs in servicing.

    The group will also sign agreements to support Moroccan universities and will contribute to establishing a vocational-training school in the railway industry.

    In a presentation before HM the King in the beginning of the ceremony, Ahmed Reda Chami highlighted the broad lines of the agreement which targets the creation of 5,000 jobs in the next ten years.

    This win-win partnership reinforces the competitiveness of the French group’s sites, while enabling Morocco to have a new industrial activity, he said.

    The agreement will make it possible for Alstom “to benefit from a platform of railway activities in production, as well as in maintenance, whose implications will go beyond our borders to reach African and the Middle East states,” the minister added.

    On this occasion, HM the King decorated Alstom’s CEO with the Alaouite Wissam with the rank of Commander.

HM the King receives CEO of French Group 'Alstom'

Agadir - HM King Mohammed VI received, on Thursday at the royal Palace in Agadir, the CEO of French Group "Alstom", Patrick Kron.
    The audience was attended by Industry, Trade and New Technologies Minister, Ahmed Reda Chami.

HM the King inaugurates in Agadir youth socio-educational complex, fishermen's house worth $1.3mln

Agadir - HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated, on Wednesday in Agadir, a youth socio-educational center and a fishermen's house for an amount of 11.7 million dirhams (1.3 million dollars).

 - The socio-educational center will contribute to facilitating the social integration of underprivileged youth.
- The fishermen's house will provide these people with social care and raise their awareness.
- The Sovereign gives sports items to clubs at the Taddart neighborhood and two ambulances to local community-based medical units.

    Stretching over 929 square meters, the facility includes rooms for social assistance, training, praying and consultation. It comprises also a bicycle repair workshop, a multi-purpose room, locker rooms and a laundry.

HM the King inaugurates in Ait Melloul socio-medical center for over $2mln

Ait Melloul - HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated, on Tuesday in the urban commune of Ait Melloul (12 km south of the city of Agadir), a socio-medical center worth 18 million dirhams (over 2 million dollars).

- The facility includes a hemodialysis center, a socio-educational centre for disabled children, a local community day nursery, and a center for the deaf-mute.
- The new socio-medical center will benefit 300 people and create 65 openings.
 
    The Sovereign toured the center which is carried out as part of the Moroccan anti-poverty programme the national initiative for human development (INDH) and includes a hemodialysis center, a socio-educational centre for disabled children, a local community day nursery and a center for the deaf-mute.
    Built on an area of 4,000 square meters, the project is aimed at promoting social and health services for disadvantaged groups, fighting the social exclusion of special needs people and providing care for children with working mothers to uphold the principle of equal opportunities.
    The new socio-medical center will benefit 300 people and create 65 openings