The territory of the Moroccan Sahara has reached a new strategic level in the continuity of the royal initiatives launched during the 25 years of reign of King Mohammed VI. 49 years after the Green March, the southern provinces have experienced three main phases of their contemporary history and their socio-economic development. The last of them is resolutely oriented towards Africa. The royal speech marking the 48th anniversary of the Green March clearly placed these provinces at the heart of the Royal Atlantic Initiative.
The path is clear for the first national cause, that of the Moroccan Sahara with the deployment of the New Development Model of the Southern Provinces (NDPS), since November 6, 2015. At the forefront of the achievements under this program, are the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway, the Port of Dakhla Atlantique and the very high voltage Dakhla-Casablanca electricity link.
Thus, this territory has crossed, since the accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne, a new strategic level, in the continuity of royal initiatives. One of the illustrations of this change in dimension is the realization of the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline, launched following the initiative of King Mohammed VI and the former President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, in addition to Morocco’s accession to the Zone. Continental Free Trade Agreement (ZLECAF).
There is also the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic Space announced in the royal speech on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Green March, which aims to promote access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean. An initiative which has also already won the support of several States on the continent. These projects and many others are the milestones through which Morocco, via its southern provinces, strengthens its African roots.
This project reflects what has been done with Europe and the rest of the world on the Mediterranean shore thanks to Tanger Med, a major infrastructure operational since 2007 in the northern region. As for the port of Nador West Med, its entry into service is scheduled for 2027.
The southern provinces at the heart of the Royal Space Initiative Atlantic
49 years after the glorious Green March, the southern provinces have experienced three main phases of their contemporary history and their socio-economic development. The first period began in 1976 and ended in 2015, with the royal speech on November 6 of that year. It was crowned by the launch of the NDPS, the implementation of which is still continuing.
As for the second phase, it focused on the establishment of a new administrative status. This consists of autonomy within the framework of advanced regionalization, with the adoption of organic laws of the regions, published in official bulletin No. 6440 of February 18, 2016. Since then, the southern provinces, which include the regions of Guelmim -Oued Noun, Lâayoune Sakia Al Hamra and Dakhla Oued Eddahab, have been at the center of a multitude of initiatives.
Regarding the third phase, it was started on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Green March when the royal speech placed the southern provinces at the heart of the Atlantic Space Initiative.
“If, through its Mediterranean facade, Morocco is firmly anchored to Europe, its Atlantic side opens it up, for its part, complete access to Africa and a window onto the American space,” underlined the King during of his speech.
“We are ensuring that our southern provinces are provided with the services and infrastructure essential to their economic development,” added the Sovereign.
In order to better support the economic growth and urban expansion of the metropolises of the Moroccan Sahara, the new development model of the southern provinces continues to bear fruit. On this register, although these localities are still considered as regions with a low contribution to the national GDP, they display the most dynamic trajectories with growth rates higher than the national average (3.6%) during the period 2014- 2022: Sakia Al Hamra (9.1%), Guelmim Oued Noun (5.5%), Dakhla Oued Ed Dahab (5.4%).
Infrastructure in the center of New development model of the southern provinces
Almost 10 years after the launch of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, for an initial total amount of around 77 billion dirhams, the budget was revalued to reach 87.55 billion dirhams. Of a portfolio of 654 projects, more than half have already been completed.
The growing economic dynamism of the southern provinces is the result of several decades of investments, starting with the continuous improvement of infrastructure and equipment, the promotion of renewable energies in addition to the improvement of the supply of means of transport ( air, land and sea).
At their head, the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway and the construction of a new Atlantic port in the same city in addition to the creation of competitiveness clusters. These include the fishing center of Dakhla, which has greatly contributed to national production, and the industrial center of Boucrâa, focused on the exploitation of phosphates. Without forgetting the agricultural and tourist centers of the three regions. Renewable energies, embodied by several projects, have brought a new dimension to the growth of these territories.
This is how the regions of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Guelmim-Oued Noun monopolize the majority of the overall surface area mobilized in terms of public land for the realization of investments dedicated to energy, with Similar promising prospects for the development of green hydrogen production.
In addition, the introduction of water desalination units, some of which operate using renewable energy, shows the momentum of development within the southern provinces and their harmonious integration into the nation.
Yassine Saber / ECO Inspirations
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