The Council of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region approved, this Monday, during its ordinary session of March 2024 chaired by Mrs. Mbarka Bouaida, the Council president, in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Najem Abhai, the wali of the region, as well as the governors of the three provinces, members, Council staff, and heads of decentralized services, a series of agreements and resolutions focused on development, aimed at promoting the educational, health, and cultural sectors in the region, as well as enhancing international cooperation and infrastructure.
In order to promote education and sports in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region and improve the services offered in this area to build a quality public school for all, a partnership agreement for the financing and implementation of a program to enhance the educational and sports sectors was approved for a total amount of 646 million dirhams. This agreement is part of the implementation of the 2022-2026 roadmap.
Regarding the cultural sector, several agreements were approved within the framework of the Regional Development Program of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region 2022-2027, including a partnership agreement aimed at developing and diversifying cultural and youth offerings in the region for a total amount of 312 million dirhams, as well as an agreement to support and promote the region’s heritage by creating the regional development company ‘Guelmim-Oued Noun Culture and Heritage.’ Additionally, the status of this regional development company was approved for a total amount of 4 million dirhams, in addition to an agreement concerning the development of cultural and recreational festivals, cultural and artistic activities, and support for local activities in the region, including active associations and individuals or legal entities working in the artistic, cultural, and media fields within the region, for a total amount of 48 million dirhams, as well as a specific partnership agreement concerning the restoration and rehabilitation of heritage in the region for a budget of 94 million dirhams.
During this session, a partnership agreement regarding the financing and implementation of the rehabilitation project of the old city of Guelmim was also approved for a total amount of 120 million dirhams, as well as a partnership agreement related to the equipping of a performance and seminar hall in the municipality of Al-Mahbes, in the province of Assa-Zag, for a total amount of 8 million dirhams.
In the field of health, a framework partnership agreement to promote this vital sector in the region was approved for a total amount of approximately 443 million dirhams, along with a partnership agreement for the rehabilitation and equipping of a dialysis center for patients suffering from kidney failure in the province of Tan-Tan. The cost of the project is 2 million dirhams. Additionally, a modification agreement regarding the allocation of land for the establishment of a local hospital in the municipality of Akhssas was approved for a total amount of 454,552 dirhams.
On the other hand, the agenda of the session included the approval of a partnership agreement to enhance the services offered to inmates in the region for a total amount of 6 million dirhams.
As for strengthening vital infrastructure, an amendment to a partnership agreement for the construction and equipping of four slaughterhouses in the cities of Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Sidi Ifni, and Assa was approved for a total amount of 92 million dirhams, along with a specific partnership and cooperation agreement aimed at creating, rehabilitating, and equipping weekly markets in the region for a total amount of 60 million dirhams, in addition to an agreement concerning the decision to abandon ownership of the lands necessary for the establishment of the annex office of the council and the office of the regional project implementation agency in Guelmim.
As part of international cooperation and strengthening ties between Morocco and its African depth, the Council approved a partnership agreement for the financing and execution of projects or services related to the rehabilitation of the Kouching dam, the construction of a 3.5 km access road, and the installation of irrigation infrastructure in the municipality of Siaia, Kenya, for a total amount of 4 million dirhams. Additionally, a framework agreement for decentralized cooperation between the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun and the Matam district in Senegal was also approved.
In the field of training, guidance, and scientific research, a framework partnership and cooperation agreement between the regional council and the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences of Abdelmalek Saâdi University in Tétouan was validated. Furthermore, a cooperation and partnership agreement regarding continuing education and scientific research between the council and the Faculty of Governance and Economic and Social Sciences of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, for a total amount of 7.5 million dirhams, was also approved.
The council also validated the transfer of credits to finance projects and services related to regional development. In closing the proceedings of this session, a telegram of loyalty and fidelity was sent to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and protect him.