Morocco/National conferences on advanced regionalization: Call to strengthen regions' financial capacities (panelists)

Tangier - Participants in a workshop on "The challenges of financing regional investment programs" called, on Friday in Tangier, for an increase in credits allocated to the regions and the strengthening of their financial capacities through the adoption of innovative financial instruments.

At this workshop, organized as part of the second edition of the Assises nationales de la régionalisation avancée, held under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, the participants, who reviewed examples of investment programs for the regions, stressed the importance of allocating the financial resources needed to implement investment programs. the importance of allocating the financial resources needed to implement investment programs.

In this respect, Hro Abrou, Chairman of the Draa-Tafilalet Regional Council, highlighted the main thrusts of the regional development program for the Draa-Tafilalet region, noting that the total cost of the program, based on a total oft of this program, based on four pillars (economic, social, spatial, cultural), amounts to 15.9 billion dirhams (MMDH), of which 5.4 MMDH is provided by the region.

After highlighting the region's natural, economic and cultural assets, as well as the various challenges it faces, Mr. Abrou called for the region's development to be stepped up. Abrou called for an increase in the ceiling of credits allocated to the regions in the general budget, estimated at 10 MMDH, as well as changing the distribution criteria, and activating solidarity funds between the regions.

The President of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Regional Council, Rachid El Abdi, also called for an increase in State funding for the regions, and the opening up of new perspectives to enable the regions to play their full part in the development of the region.Rachid El Abdi also called for an increase in state funding for the regions and the opening up of new prospects to enable them to find new sources of financing, stressing that the regions are seeking successful partnerships and the confidence of financial institutions.

The regional development program for the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region for the period 2022-2027 comprises five strategic axes, divided intodivided into 23 programs and 56 projects, requiring a total investment of 28.9 MMDH, including 8 MMDH disbursed by the regional council, he added.

Hassan Rahmani, General Secretary of the Fonds d'Equipement Communal (Municipal Equipment Fund), said that the fund's contribution, in conjunction with the implementation of the advanced regionalization policy, had seen an increase in the number of projects.gionalisation, has seen a change in the volume of loan applications, in parallel with the increase in the share of regional councils in the loan structure.

Mr. Rahmani added that loans granted to regional councils have risen from 1.3 MMDH in 2015 to around 12 MMDH in 2023, and Fund financing has increased from 1.8 MMDH in 2015 to over 4 MMDH in 2023.

For his part, Aziz El Khayati, Budget Director at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, noted that public investment had increased fivefold between 2001 and 2025, enabling a transformation of the national landscape through the development of major infrastructures.

Thanks to institutional reforms and the increase in regional financial resources, regional budgets have risen from 6 billion dirhams in 2010-2015 to 50 billion dirhams between 2021 and 2025, he said, adding that these funds have enabled the regions to contribute to the development of the country.have enabled the regions to contribute to structuring projects aimed at reducing social and territorial disparities, developing infrastructure and strengthening public services.

For his part, World Bank expert Yannis Arvantes spoke of the role played by the Bank in supporting decentralization and deconcentration processes in Morocco, with a portfolio of 1.9 billion dirhams spread over five programs.

M. Arvantes pointed out that the "Moroccan Public Sector Performance" program (ENNAJAA) aims to strengthen advanced regionalization by improving the budgeting and monitoring of public investments.and monitoring of public investments, adding that one of the aims of these efforts is to promote sustainable and resilient development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The opening session was marked by the Royal Message to participants, read out by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit.

Placed under the theme "Advanced regionalization, between today's and tomorrow's challenges", this two-day meeting is organized by the French Ministry of the Interior.this two-day meeting is organized by the Ministry of the Interior in partnership with the Association of Moroccan Regions. It represents an important moment in the implementation, in accordance with the High Royal Orientations, of the advanced regionalization project as a structural institutional reform and strategic choice for consolidating the territorial development process.

Source: www.mapexpress.ma/