Morocco/A Laâyoune, a determined march towards all-round development
Laâyoune - Decidedly, the city of Laâyoune is living to the rhythm of an all-out development dynamic, in keeping with the spirit of the new Development Model for the Southern Provinces, launched in 2015 by HM King Mohammed VI.
A large number of structuring projects were launched in 2023 in the largest city in the Moroccan Sahara, undoubtedly helping to improve the quality of life for citizens and accelerate the pace of socio-economic development.
This sustained momentum enabled the city of Laâyoune to win the Sustainable and Resilient City Prize awarded by the Arab Towns Organization last November in Doha, as part of the 14th Sustainable and Resilient City Awards.
These flagship projects have undoubtedly given new impetus to the development process in the capital of the Moroccan Sahara, through the implementation of edifying projects aimed in particular at improving the health care offer, the quality of life and the quality of life of the inhabitants.lopment of healthcare services, agricultural development and the consolidation of infrastructures for higher education and vocational training, as well as roads, sports and cultural facilities.
In the health sector, six urban and rural health centers were opened last November in the province of Laâyoune, as part of the policy to rehabilitate and equip public health establishments.
These are the first-level urban health centers, namely "Al Qods", "La ville nouvelle", "Al Aouda", "Al Wifaq", "Al Aouda" and "Al Aouda".Al Wifaq", "Mohamed Salem Sidi El Boukhari" and "25 Mars", as well as the "Diaâte" rural dispensary.
These health centers are equipped with top-quality medical resources and equipment, as well as an integrated information system that records digital patient data.This gives patients easy access to their medical records at all regional and national health establishments.
To consolidate the road infrastructure, a major structure over Oued Sakia Al Hamra, 600 m long and 14 m wide, was commissioned at the end of July.
The project, which is part of the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway project costing 107.6 million dirhams (MDH) to complete, aims to improve road traffic flow, combat flooding of the Oued Sakia El Hamra and bring the road into line with international standards.
In addition, a new viaduct will be built over Oued Sakia Al Hamra, 1,725 meters long, at a cost of around 1.3 billion dirhams (MMDH).
All sections of the expressway have been completed in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, including the last section (Tarfaya-Oudri), which was opened to traffic at the end of October. opened to traffic at the end of October, following the completion of horizontal and vertical signage and road safety equipment.
In the agricultural sector, a milk processing and yoghurt production unit was inaugurated last November in the commune of Foum El Oued, with a view to diversifying production, improving the income of beneficiaries and creating new employment opportunities.
As part of the new development model for the southern provinces, this 3,000 m² structure, which has mobilized a budget of nearly 46 MDH, will enable the production of 1,460 tonnes of yoghurt per year and the creation of 18,000 working days.
The project also involves the creation of a livestock feed production unit (totally mixed rations), managed by a dairy farmers' cooperative.
With a total investment of 8 MDH, this project, which benefits from a subsidy of around0.8 MDH, aims to unify cattle feed rations, improve cattle reproduction and unify milk quality.
On the cultural front, Laâyoune's new media library offers visitors free access to a collection of books, magazines and newspapers, as well as a wide range of cultural events.
Spread over an area of 23,500 m², including 5.500 m² under cover, this architectural jewel required a budget of around 86.6 MDH, of which 70.1 MDH was for construction and fitting-out work, while the amount earmarked for the renovation and refurbishment of the building was around 50 MDH.while the amount earmarked for equipment came to 16.5 MDH.
This cultural structure includes an auditorium with a capacity of around 450 seats, a reading room, a video library, an exhibition gallery and a space reserved for the press, in addition to a multimedia room.
In the same vein, a project to rehabilitate and equip a cultural complex dedicated to Hassanie culture was launched at a cost of 12 MDH, covering an area of 6.000 m², with the aim of safeguarding cultural heritage, promoting tourism and creating job opportunities in the tourism sector.
Vocational training is not to be outdone in this virtuous dynamic, with the completion of the Cité des métiers et des compétences (CMC) in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, which welcomed its first class for the 2022-2023 training year.
The Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra CMC is intended to be a new-generation training establishment, aimed at diversifying the range of specialties offered for training and adapting it to the needs of the job market.
Part of the regional development dynamic, this CMC has a total capacity of 2.000 places per year, offers a diversified range of training courses covering 46 fields of study, 70% of which are newly created, to meet the evolving skills needs of sectors with high employment potential for the region.
Higher education is the other key focus for the southern provinces, with the construction of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, which has mobilized a budget of 257 MDH over a surface area of 10 Ha.
This large-scale project is part of an integrated project involving the construction of a university hospital center at a cost of 1.2 MMDH, which will improve healthcare provision for the population and deliver high-quality medical services.
Sports facilities were enhanced by the inauguration in November of an indoor Olympic swimming pool and an indoor multi-sports hall.an indoor multi-sports hall, for a total investment of 105 MDH, in addition to an indoor Al Hizam swimming pool (20.5 MDH), to encourage the emergence of new talent among the younger generation in the sporting field.
Work was also launched at the end of July on the construction of two other indoor swimming pools in the "25 Mars" (28.2 MDH) and "Al Kassam" (5.2 MDH) districts, which will take 12 months to complete.
In addition, the crafts sector was strengthened by the inauguration of Dar Saniaa (craftswomen's house), with a view to reinforcing the capacities of women's craft cooperatives and providing them with a space conducive to production, training and marketing.
At a total cost of 2.2 MDH, this project is part of the integrated development program for the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region. fifty craftswomen from cooperatives and cooperative unions, who benefited from a series of training courses at apprenticeship training centers.
This year also saw the inauguration of public gardens and squares, including the 4.600 m², with an underground parking lot (3,800 m²) for over 100 cars.
Similarly, the "Oum Saad" square was commissioned, covering an area of 60,000 m² at a cost of 60 MDH, including green spaces, fountains and play areas, as well as a skate park.
All in all, Laâyoune continues to move forward with determination, becoming a major open-air construction site that will enable this region of the Kingdom to fulfill its role in the national socio-economic fabric.
The projects that have been completed or are currently underway bear witness to the high regard in which His Majesty King Mohammed VI has always placed the southern provinces, making them true investment hubs that contribute to the international reputation of the Moroccan Sahara.
Source: www.mapexpress.ma/
