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Weekly highlights

Flood Damage Calls for Tender Launched

T HE Question Time session
at the Parliament last Mon-
day was dedicated to the
measures taken to address
the effects of the floods on infras-
tructure in the southeastern regions
of the Kingdom. This gave the
Minister of Equipment and Water,
Nizar Baraka, the opportunity to list
the many road sections that have
been reopened. «The royal direc-
tives have given us an opportunity
to strengthen our efforts.», he said.
This refers to the special program
of 2.5 billion dirhams (USD 250
million), half of which is allocated
to basic infrastructure. The recons-
truction of bridges, rural roads, and
of some roads of a special category Current climatic conditions, with strong heat waves, high temperatures and low humidity create an environment conducive to fires
has already begun. The ministry an inventory in collaboration with department is rebuilding a bridge. increasingly severe droughts and
has launched calls for tender for local authorities and the Ministry However, this is not enough, as it is floods. Nizar Baraka highlighted
the completion of 71 road sections of Interior. The dossier has been essential to construct another struc- the inventory work done with local
and 69 engineering structures as submitted to the Head of Govern- ture in a different location. These authorities and the relevant minis-
part of the rehabilitation program ment, who chairs the commission floods occur every 100 years, with tries concerning the structures that
for areas affected by the floods in established to oversee the start of the next expected in 500 years. The- need to be rebuilt. The list includes
the southeast. To finalize these pro- the work.The minister emphasized refore, it is crucial to prepare for projects funded by the Ministry of
grams, additional projects require the need to review certain aspects, future scenarios, taking into account Equipment’s budget, he noted.o
studies that will begin in 2025. Ad- highlighting negative points. For climate change and its accompa- Mohamed CHAOUI
ditionally, the ministry has compiled example, in the bregion of Tata, his nying extreme events, including

The Shipping Industry A Strategic

Lever for Economic Sovereignty

A LTHOUGH still in its early Key Figures of the Shipping Environmental Council (CESE) competitiveness. Moreover, Moroc-
stages, Morocco’s maritime
co has yet to attract private inves-
highlights the need to strengthen
Industry in Morocco
this industry to bolster economic
tors to the industry. To address these
industry represents a cru-
cial lever for the national Length of Moroccan coastline: sovereignty, especially as global challenges, the Council recommends
economy. With a 3,500 km coast- 3,500 km crises have underscored the impor- adopting an integrated national stra-
line and continuously expanding tance of autonomy in shipbuilding tegy based on three main pillars.
port infrastructure, the country has Exclusive economic zone: and repair. The report sheds light on First, the establishment of an insti-
all the assets to develop a compe- 1,200,000 km² the sector’s significant yet largely tutional framework for coordination
titive shipbuilding sector. This is Number of ports: 43 (14 of underutilized strategic potential. between public and private stakehol-
particularly relevant following the which are open to foreign trade) Between 2013 and 2022, the sector ders. Second, the implementation of
speech of His Majesty on the occa- generated only 500 million dirhams incentive measures to attract inves-
sion of the Green March celebration Sector revenue between 2013 in annual revenue, primarily from tors and strengthen industrial inte-
in 2023, which emphasized the need and 2022: 500 million dirhams/ fishing boat repair and maintenance. gration. Lastly, the targeting of high-
to promote the development of the year However, the maritime industry potential segments such as fishing
Kingdom’s Atlantic coast, especially could play a key role in Morocco’s vessel construction, ship repair, and
in the metropolises of the Moroc- Contribution to GDP: 0.01% industrial diversification, comple- ship dismantling.
can Sahara. The priorities iinclude Direct jobs created between menting the country’s thriving auto- The development of Morocco’s
building a maritime economy and 2013 and 2022: 700 jobs motive and aerospace sectors. shipping industry could comple-
encouraging the Blue Economy. ment the automotive and aerospace
Furthermore, the Sovereign called The CESE council identifies seve- sectors, which are already key pil-
on public authorities to reflect on Challenge of Developing the Ship- ral obstacles to the industry’s deve- lars of the Moroccan economy, fur-
establishing a strong and competi- ping Industry in Morocco,» pres- lopment. A major challenge is the ther contributing to the country’s
tive commercial maritime fleet. ented on Tuesday, October 15, in reliance on imported inputs, such industrial diversification. o
In its latest report, «The Crucial Rabat, the Economic, Social, and as steel, which limits the sector’s Amine BOUSHABA

Friday 18 October 2024