“The standard of living of the population of the southern provinces is clearly on the rise,” Mr. Tunis, who is leading a large delegation from the ECOWAS parliament on a visit to Morocco, told MAP.
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament also welcomed the momentum of socio-economic development in Dakhla and Laayoune, saying he was impressed by the projects carried out in these two cities of the Moroccan Sahara.
“In the next five years, Dakhla will become a very big city, thanks to the implementation of all these ongoing development projects”, he pointed out, adding that this visit enabled the ECOWAS parliamentary delegation to be aware of the situation in the southern provinces.
During his talks with the President of the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, El Khattat Yanja, Mr. Tunis also highlighted the economic and social development experienced by Morocco, while praising the Kingdom’s strategy carried out in particular in its southern regions.
For his part, the first vice-Speaker of the House of Advisors, Mohamed Hanine, underlined that this visit comes in the wake of the opening of the Upper House to regional and international economic groupings, noting that the delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament saw first-hand the socio-economic situation in the Moroccan Sahara.
This visit allowed the members of the delegation to learn closely about the reality in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, which contradicts the lies conveyed by opponents of territorial integrity, said Mr. Hanine.
For his part, Mr. Yanja stressed that during this meeting, emphasis was placed on the great development effort undertaken by Morocco, with a view to ensure a win-win economic integration with the countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as on the achievements made in the southern regions and on the role of elected officials in local development.
“Our ambition is to be closer to sub-Saharan Africa and to become a strong partner of this economic grouping,” noted Mr. Yanja, recalling that the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region with has strong economic potential constitutes an important exporter for this regional organisation, particularly in the maritime fishing sector.
During this visit, the delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament focused on the key achievements in the southern provinces, which testifies that the Kingdom is on the right track of sustainable development and in search of solid partnerships with African brotherly countries, he pointed out, adding that this strategic choice will have a positive impact on the population of these regions.
The members of the delegation also followed a presentation given by the director of the Regional Investment Center of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Mounir Houari, in which he highlighted the various large-scale projects carried out and those in progress, which will turn Dakhla into a regional hub between Europe and Africa.
He mentioned, in this regard, the Dakhla Atlantic port as well as the seawater desalination project to irrigate 5,000 hectares of agricultural land.
The delegation of the ECOWAS parliament and the members of the office of the House of Advisors, Jawad El Hilali, and Moustapha Moucharik, also held talks with the Wali of the region of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, governor of the province of Oued Eddahab, Lamine Benomar.
The House of Advisors (upper house) and the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed, on Wednesday, the “Laayoune Declaration”.
The Laayoune Declaration commends the important role played by the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, in major regional issues.
The document praises the important role of Morocco in managing challenges related to migration, enhancing food, health, and energy security, and achieving sustainable development.
The declaration also commends the important role played by the Economic Community of West African States to reinforce de process of the regional and continental integration and development, stressing the importance of south-south cooperation as a key factor in facing the challenges and stakes posed at the international and regional levels, and as a mechanism to launch a structural transformation of the economies of the region’s countries, and lay the foundations for strong and sustainable growth.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse