09/29/2014 (press release: media1press)
HM King Mohammed VI chaired this Friday at the Royal Palace of Casablanca the launching of the Great Casablanca region development plan (2015-2020).
The plan is part of the Royal orientations, mainly those mentioned in the speech delivered last October by the Sovereign at the opening of the first session of the third legislative year of the parliament’s ninth legislature.
It is intended to consolidate the region’s economic status and make of it a genuine international financial hub, improve the living condition of inhabitants and preserve its environment and identity.
Following suit to the cities of Marrakech, Tangier, Sale, Rabat, and Tetouan, the Great Casablanca region is endowed with an integrated, balanced and inclusive program, designed according to a participative approach involving all the region’s various stakeholders.
Based on an innovating approach in terms of interdisciplinary, integrated and coherent action of public authorities, the ambitious plan draws inspiration from pilot experiences led by world cities that proved efficient and successful in their management and planning.
It revolves around four strategic axes: Improving living conditions (2.6 billion DH) and granting particular interest to social categories living in precarious situations and to persons with specific needs, in complementarity with programs carried out in the frame of the National initiative of Human development.
This first axis deals mainly with consolidating community centers and facilities, supporting the non-formal sector, generalizing primary education, rehabilitating health institutions, establishing a center for the management of emergency actions and rescue operations, protecting the environment and generalizing drinking water, electricity and sanitation grinds.
The second axis consists of consolidating mobility in the region (27 billion DH) through the extension of the tramway line, developing the bus fleet, building urban, provincial and highway roads and building other road facilities and tunnels.
The third axis is meant to promote the region’s economic attractiveness by restructuring existing industrial zones, building new industrial, services and logistics zones and improving the business atmosphere. It will be co-financed by public and private sectors.
The fourth axis, worth 2 billion DH, is meant to confirm the region’s status as a national and international destination of commerce and leisure and venue of major events. To this end, the plan features building a large theater and a sports village, overhauling the Mohammed V compound and “La Casablancaise” space and rehabilitating the coastal area, the Merchich forest and the Ain Sbaâ Zoo.
Meanwhile, a 2.8 billion dirham priority action plan is being implemented during the year 2014.
To ensure the success of this large-scale project, several measures are scheduled, including enhancing governance and the legal framework, prospecting new methods of financing and partnership, modernizing public service and adopting a communication plan meant to promote the region’s identity.
The 2015-2020 Great Casablanca Region Development Plan will thus consolidate the “Wessal Casablanca Port” project which aims at reconverting a part of the Casablanca Port for an investment cost of 6 billion dirhams. This project is expected to result in a large-scale upgrading operation of the whole city, by creating new urban centers across Casablanca and its suburbs and developing the historic old medina and its coast with the goal of making the city a major destination for cultural and business tourism and cruises.
On this occasion, HM the King chaired the signing ceremony of 10 agreements on the implementation of the 2015-2020 Great Casablanca Region Development Plan, worth 33.6 billion dirhams.
Social Media Tags:HM King Mohammed VI, Greater Casablanca Development Plan,
Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution – SubmitMyPressRelease.com
