Date: December 26, 2023
Rabat – Driven by a proactive and determined will and an unwavering belief in the necessity of ensuring dignified living conditions for all segments of society, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has consistently worked to strengthen the social state and promote balanced, inclusive, and sustainable development since ascending to the throne of His illustrious ancestors.
The year 2023, in line with this commitment, witnessed the launch of several projects and programs aimed at enhancing citizens’ access to basic healthcare services, strengthening their ability to secure decent housing, consolidating family cohesion, and thereby ensuring greater social justice and equity.
His Majesty the King has continuously initiated benevolent actions to democratize access to healthcare, emphasizing proximity in policy, improving the health of those with specific needs, the elderly, or chronic illnesses, and securing the Kingdom’s health sovereignty.
These efforts were reinforced by the inauguration on April 28 of the “Mohammed VI” University Hospital in Tangier, a medical center of excellence that, with its Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, will structure healthcare offerings in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, attract new medical talents, and provide advanced training to the new generations of professionals.
Additionally, in April, the inauguration of the Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Center at Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca and a Medical Center of Proximity-Foundation Mohammed V for Solidarity in the new city of Errahma in Dar Bouaaza (Casablanca) further emphasized the King’s commitment to enhancing basic healthcare services and bringing them closer to citizens.
A noteworthy addition is the deployment of connected mobile medical units, a pilot program aimed at improving access to medical services in rural areas. This initiative is part of the Royal project to reform the healthcare system and generalize social protection, representing a new intervention model that combines local care and telemedicine.
In the realm of strengthening citizens’ access to decent housing, a new housing assistance program has been implemented for the period 2024-2028. This program aims to renew the approach to property access assistance, providing direct financial aid to buyers. Eligible are Moroccans residing in Morocco or abroad, who do not own property in Morocco and have never received housing assistance.
This new program will socially facilitate housing access for low-income and middle-class groups, reduce housing deficits, and accelerate the completion of the “Cities Without Slums” program.
In addition, the direct social assistance program, impacting targeted families, will uplift their standard of living, combat poverty and precariousness, and ultimately improve social and human development indicators.
Prime Minister Mr. Aziz Akhannouch stated that around one million families, equivalent to 3.5 million Moroccans meeting the required eligibility threshold of the Unified Social Register, will benefit from the first tranche of direct social assistance starting December 28.
Recognizing the family as the basic unit of society, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has consistently worked to strengthen this institution by initiating major projects and reforms in its favor and creating favorable conditions to fortify family cohesion.
In this context, the King addressed a letter to the Prime Minister to initiate the revision of the Family Code (Moudawana), drawing inspiration from national values that place family and familial ties in the sacred sphere.
Understanding the relationship between social development and economic growth, His Majesty the King has always shown a particular interest in promoting the industrial sector as a crucial lever for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.
Over the past two decades, thanks to the enlightened vision of the Sovereign, Morocco has made significant progress in this sector, relying on ambitious strategies designed to make industry a major provider of employment, a stimulator of productive investment, and a driver of growth and development.
The Kingdom has become an essential global destination in cutting-edge sectors, such as the aerospace industry, where Morocco serves as an attractive platform, and the automotive sector, where Morocco has become a continental leader.
The latest manifestation of this success story is the birth of the first Moroccan public brand of automobiles, with the first model presented to His Majesty the King on May 15. Driven by national expertise, this project primarily relies on the local automotive equipment ecosystem developed by the Kingdom.
However, these achievements could not be attained without a qualified human capital capable of supporting the implementation of various sectoral development strategies. In this regard, the new roadmap for the development of vocational training is highlighted, with the flagship being the Cities of Trades and Skills (CMC) program.
This program, with an estimated total investment of 4.4 billion dirhams, envisions the establishment of 12 CMCs across different regions of the Kingdom. These will serve as multisectoral vocational training platforms, welcoming 34,000 trainees annually.
In 2023, His Majesty the King inaugurated the City of Trades and Skills in the Tamesna city of the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region. It is the fourth CMC to open its doors to young learners, following those in Souss-Massa, Oriental, and Laayoune-Sakia-El Hamra, which commenced training between October and November 2022.
