Government shareholding policy validated | L’Economiste
The roadmap is becoming clearer for Abdellatif Zaghnoun, CEO of the Nation-al Agency for Strategic Management of State Holdings and Performance Moni-toring of State-Owned Enterprises (ANGSPE). The Council of Ministers, chaired by HM the King on Saturday, June 1 in Casablanca, approved the stra-tegic orientations of the Government’s shareholding policy. The former head of CDG (Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion) will have to roll up his sleeves to get things moving again. Today, he has the visibility to accelerate the reform of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs, State-Owned Entreprises), aimed in particular at restructuring the Government’s portfolio and improving its governance. As part of this strategic initiative, the Agency has drawn up a roadmap defining priority projects, including a proposal for the Government’s shareholding poli-cy, which has just been approved. Its implementation will provide a shared frame of reference capable of redefining the role, positioning and mode of in-tervention of the Government in the various sectors. The same applies to the coherence of sectoral policies and the orientation of the Government as share-holder in terms of maintaining, strengthening or withdrawing, where appropri-ate, from certain activities in favor of the private sector. And this, according to the strategic degree of the said participation and the maturity of the sector and activity concerned. It should be emphasized that the National Agency for Stra-tegic Management of Government Holdings and Performance Monitoring of State-Owned Enterprises (ANGSPE) has already initiated a strategic dialogue and consultations with all the players concerned, in order to arrive at a concert-ed vision. One of the seven strategic orientations outlined in the royal cabinet’s press release is to establish the SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises) sector as a stra-tegic lever for consolidating national sovereignty. This is to be achieved by supporting the Government’s efforts in vital sectors such as energy, health, wa-ter, food safety and environmental protection. Likewise, this sector should be-come a driving force for continental and regional integration, helping to meet geostrategic challenges and safeguard the Kingdom’s interests. The same applies to strengthening South-South cooperation, particularly with African countries. The idea is also for this sector to be a pillar for boosting private investment. This is to be achieved through the establishment of proactive partnerships with the private sector, based on a complementary approach. In addition, these pub-lic institutions can play an active role in ensuring territorial equity in the service of economic, social, financial and digital inclusion. And this, within the frame-work of advanced regionalization, while guaranteeing equitable access for citi-zens to quality public services, reads the press release. The other strategic orien-tation is to reinforce the exemplary role of SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises), in terms of governance and performance.
Defense industrial acceleration zones
The Council of Ministers has approved four military-related decrees. One con-cerns the creation of two defense industrial acceleration zones. It aims to set up industrial zones to host defense industries related to defense and security mate-rials and equipment, weapons and munitions.
Status of medical research professors
The Council adopted a decree on the special status of the body of research pro-fessors in medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. The decree aims to establish sci-entific and academic excellence as a fundamental criterion for access to the teaching-research profession and professional promotion. The decree also aims to streamline the procedures for professional promotion, and to grant a functional allowance to teachers in charge of departments and centers within military hospital establishments, in the same way as teachers in charge of hospi-tal services within these establishments.
A portfolio of 57 SOEs
The Agency’s portfolio is made up of 57 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). It is tasked with maximizing value and profitability and modernizing governance, with management reporting to an accountable board of directors, including both state representatives and independent members. However, the Agency will not take the place of SOEs, which remain responsible for the execution of their projects. Rather, the Agency will act as a coach and advisor to accelerate their transformation and restructuring. It should be pointed out that the Agency is responsible for a perimeter of State-Owned Enterprises that carry out commer-cial and market activities. Out of a total of 207 SOEs, only 57 are in the hands of Abdellatif Zaghnoun.
New strategic establishments
The list of strategic public establishments, whose managers are appointed after deliberation by the Council of Ministers, has been extended to include new ones. For example, the organic law on appointments to senior positions has now included the Agency for the Development of the Grand Atlas (Agence de dé-veloppement du Grand Atlas) and the National Social Aid Agency (Agence nationale d’aide sociale). Similarly, the entities created as part of the reform of the healthcare system, which had been the subject of political controversy over the appointments of their heads (cf.www.leconomiste. com), have now been resolved. Indeed, the High Health Authority (Haute autorité de la santé), the Territorial Health Groups (Groupements sanitaires territoriaux), the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products and the Moroccan Agency for Blood and Blood Derivatives are now on the list of strategic establishments.
Mohamed CHAOUI
