Royal Message Underlines HM the King’s Special Interest in Success of Regional Development – Interior Minister

The Royal Message delivered to the participants of the 2nd National Conference on Advanced Regionalization underlines the special interest given by HM King Mohammed VI to the success of this regional development project, as an essential lever for integrated and sustainable economic growth and human development, Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, said on Saturday in Tangier. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Conference, held under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, Laftit added that this regional development requires the combined efforts of all stakeholders to guarantee citizens prosperity and a decent life. The Royal Message, Laftit added, emphasizes the need to take up the challenges that still stand in the way of optimal implementation of the advanced regionalization project, particularly those linked to effective application of the National Charter for Administrative Deconcentration and full operationalization of the exercise by the regions of their full powers. Among these challenges, he cited reinforcing participative democracy regionally and locally, and implementing the constitutional principle of territorial accountability, promoting regional attractiveness, and the ability of regions to develop financing mechanisms to cope with certain crises and adapt to changes imposed by the economic situation and future hazards. Laftit also emphasized that the participation of several stakeholders in this event, including elected representatives, parliamentarians, government officials, presidents of constitutional institutions, civil society stakeholders and representatives of international partner organizations, enabled constructive and fruitful debates on themes relating to the challenges facing the advanced regionalization project. These contributions also highlighted the opportunities offered by advanced regionalization as a platform for strengthening local governance, spatial justice and efficiency in resource management, and as a collective work space giving stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on promoting integrated development through the territorial implementation of public policies, the Minister said. Held under the theme “Advanced Regionalization: Facing Today’s and Tomorrow’s Challenges” by the Ministry of the Interior in partnership with the Moroccan Association of Regions, this two-day event marks a significant step in the implementation, under the impetus of the High Royal Guidelines, of the Advanced Regionalization project as a structural institutional reform and strategic choice to consolidate the territorial development process.