Sahara Development Model is the Result of Promising Strategy

The Sahara development model is the result of a promising strategy that will enable Southern provinces to fully play their role as an African economic hub and as a bridge between Europe, the Arab Maghreb the Sahel region, HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco said.

In a message sent to participants in Crans Montana Forum which was read out on Friday by chairman of the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Ynja Khattat, the Sovereign recalled that at the previous forum's meeting, he shared his ambition to see a new development model crafted for this region "which is so dear to me."

"It is the result of a promising strategy through which we seek to bring our three southern provinces to a level of development that will enable them to fully play their role as an African economic hub and as a bridge between Europe, the Arab Maghreb the Sahel region," the Sovereign explained.

The decision to meet, once again, in the city of Dakhla has more than just a symbolic meaning, HM the King stressed, noting that "it bears witness to the fact that fresh momentum has been given to the vision we have of the Moroccan Sahara as a place conducive to interaction as well as a platform for time-honored human and commercial relations and for the exchange of knowledge between the South and the North."

Today, development plans are a tangible reality, the monarch said as quoted by state news agency, MAP.

"During recent visits to the Sahara region, I launched a number of large-scale development projects, honoring my commitment to the citizens of our southern provinces," the Sovereign said, citing the forthcoming creation of competitive economic hubs to stimulate growth, provide jobs, enhance cultural expression, uphold human rights and protect the environment.

These hubs are expected to support productive sectors, such as agriculture, sea fishing and ecotourism, while also enhancing land, air and sea transport networks between the southern provinces and the Kingdom’s other regions on the one hand, and between the region and other African countries on the other, HM the King explained.

"Special attention has also been paid to the social side through, for example, the implementation of a number of projects to improve the quality of education as well as health and socio-economic services," the Sovereign underlined.

"I wanted these structural projects to coincide with the implementation of advanced regionalization, following the recent regional elections, the establishment of bodies that were elected directly by the citizens and the provision of important constitutional and legal powers as well as financial and human resources," HM the King emphasized.