King Mohammed Launches Major Infrastructure Projects in Southern Provinces
Morocco, Economics, 11/2/2001

Carrying on his tour in Moroccan central and southern provinces started on October 14, King Mohammed VI was on Thursday in Laayoune, where he launched and inquired about progress in major infrastructure projects.

The sovereign, who was accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid and his cousin Prince Moulay Ismail, was sheered at the city's central square by thousands of inhabitants who flooded the streets to greet the sovereign.

He first inquired about a project underway to build 3,000 low-cost housing and an industrial zone -to be carried out with a budget of 56.5 Mln DH (US$ 5.13 Mln)- and comprising 61 industrial premises, 110 handicraft premises and sites for young promoters and administrative services. The sovereign also heard explanations about a program, worth 2.41 million (US$ 0.21 Mln) to fight unhealthy housing in the city, benefiting 31,252 families and other projects to improve drinking water production and supply (requiring an investment of 251 mln DH, or US$ 22.8 Mln), through the extension of the desalination plants and drinking water supply to two localities.

Then, the king was briefed on a project, worth 135 Mln DH (US$ 12.2 million) to connect the city of Boujdour to the national electric grid and to build a 155 MW electric plant in Laayoune, for a total cost of 1.14 Billion DH (US$ 103.6 Mln). Other projects on which the sovereign received explanations are a 44 km-long road extension and coating between the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, requiring a total cost of 14 mln DH (US$ 1.2 million), the consolidation of a 13 km-long road (5.5 Mln DH or (US$ 0.5 Mln) and construction of a 22 km-long road for a cost of 12.13 Mln DH (US$ 1.1 Mln).

The king also launched works for the extension of various facilities at the Laayoune port, at a cost of 170 Mln DH (US$ 15.4 Mln) and was briefed on the construction of the port fish market that will require 40 Mln DH (US$ 3.6 Mln). Another project presented to the sovereign is a maritime training center which will receive an annual 282 students, a computer-training institute and other projects initiated by the Moroccan office of vocational training and work promotion in association with the Mohammed V solidarity foundation, private economic operators and the national agency of employment and skills promotion.

The sovereign heard explanations on off-shore oil exploration agreements passed recently between the Moroccan office of Oil research and exploitation (ONAREP) with the KRRUMC and Total Fina companies.

A partnership convention was signed between the Mohammed V solidarity foundation and the ministry of agriculture, rural development, water and forests for the creation of a goat-breeding, a cheese production and chicken flesh plants. The signing ceremony was chaired by the king.

The foundation also signed a convention with the youth and sports ministry for the creation of a social center in Laayoune.

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