Editorial: Pace

The Government and elected councils must roll up their sleeves. They are called upon to devise a new approach to integrated territorial development. The idea is to put an end to the logic of a Morocco moving forward at two speeds, as evident in the speech delivered by HM the King on the occasion of the Throne Day celebrations. Today, a new generation of public policies must be developed to upgrade the territories and address disparities. These reflect a legacy of unbalanced development, with economic hubs concentrated on the coast and around major urban centers.
The large gaps between territories are linked to a series of factors, reflecting a historical divide between on the one hand a «useful Morocco», that is attractive and connected, with economic and social dynamics, and, on the other hand,  a « peripheral Morocco «, still marked by poverty and vulnerability.
The Government is not solely responsible for this delay. Elected councils are directly responsible for the appropriation of the powers provided for by the organic laws governing local authorities.
The new Investment Charter also provides for a series of measures to foster economic momentum in areas that are still underutilized. Today, a basic framework exists to place regions on the path to emergence. This framework  could be strengthened by new, better-targeted public policies that take into account the specific characteristics and potential of each area. Nonetheless,  the impact will remain dependent on the speed of implementation. Even the best programs are worthless without rapid and rigorous execution, because it is not only a matter of properly designing local development, but also of ensuring it is implemented at the right pace.

Mohamed Ali MRABI