The Larache province organized an extensive consultative meeting on Tuesday, November 4, focusing on the preparation of a new generation of integrated regional development programs.
The meeting, chaired by Larache Governor Jamilan Bouasem, aligns with royal directives from recent Throne Day speeches and the opening of the current legislative session, emphasizing the need to launch a new generation of integrated regional development programs as a pivotal point in national development. This embodies the King’s vision for a progressive, inclusive, and regionally balanced Morocco.
Attendees included members of civil society, economic stakeholders, elected officials, citizens, and representatives from various administrations. The session featured a presentation focusing on the province’s sectoral needs, natural resources, investment opportunities, infrastructure, especially in roads, and the developmental specifics of the region, along with achievements from the National Human Development Initiative.
Governor Bouasem highlighted that the real challenge for regional development in Larache is ensuring broad participation in preparing integrated development programs, positioning citizens as the central focus of public policies.
In his remarks, he advocated for establishing a new model of regional development management based on effective participatory diagnostics, continuous evaluation, and collective project leadership within a framework of transparency, accountability, and sustainable support. This is a shared responsibility among regional authorities, elected officials, and local stakeholders.
### Priorities
The preparation of integrated regional development programs for Larache, according to Bouasem, focuses on several key priorities, including job creation by enhancing economic potential and fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and local investment, and improving the quality of basic social services, particularly in education and health.
Additional priorities include protecting natural resources, especially water, and implementing sustainable management practices to address climate change and water stress. The initiative will also launch integrated spatial development projects in harmony with national structuring projects, taking into account environmental dimensions and the characteristics of rural and mountainous areas, alongside supporting sustainable development along the coast and emerging rural centers.
This consultative meeting follows previous gatherings and study days held in September, focused on the priorities of the integrated regional development program.
Until November 13, additional meetings and workshops will be organized across the districts and municipalities of the province to stimulate thinking, select projects, define priorities, and involve all stakeholders in enhancing the programs.
It is worth noting that this consultative meeting is part of the broader launch of the design and preparation phase for the new generation of integrated regional development programs across all provinces in the kingdom.
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