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Rabat – Amid the rising tension in the northern city of Al Hoceima, the population’s social and economic demands are finally being answered.
On the public procurement portal, several calls for tender were announced between May and June 2017, following the projects developed under the investment program for the region.
The Hirak movement’s eight months of protests seem to have paid off, as Al Hoceima is about to witness a major upgrade with the different projects that will be invested in the region.
Since May, several calls for tender have been launched for projects in various sectors: health, education, housing, fisheries, infrastructure, development and many other fields.
These numerous projects are part of the MAD 10 billion investment program announced on May 23 by the inter-ministerial team dispatched to Al Hoceima to put an end to the protests.
After a significant delay in the implementation of these projects, the investments announced both before and after the social protests in the region are now being accelerated.
Health
In the health sector, efforts have been made to upgrade hospitals and establish a health center. A call for tender concerning the construction of an urban health center in the city of Al Hoceima for a total of MAD 3,534,894 has been launched.
Also included is tender number 15/2017/DRST for the supply and installation of medical and technical equipment for the local hospital of Imzouren for an amount of MAD 23.5 million.
An invitation to tender number 14/2017/DRMSTTA for the purchase of the bedding and clothing intended for the local hospital of Imzouren has been launched for the amount of MAD 2.5 million.
Education
Several institutions are scheduled to be implemented in the region. Among the projects will be the construction of a high school in the rural commune of Abdelghaya Souahil in the Al Hoceima province, with an overall cost of MAD 13.106.982.
The invitation to tender 71/2017/OFPPT concerns the construction of the specialized institute of applied technology at Targuist for an amount of MAD 12.8 million.
Agriculture
Two calls of tenders have been made in the agricultural sector. The invitation to tender number 39/2017/DPA/02/SMOPFA for technical assistance for the implementation and follow-up of Pillar II projects relating to the almond, cactus and olive tree sectors, forming part of the Green Morocco Plan, with an estimated cost of MAD 2.8 million.
The second invitation to tender relates to the management of the logistics and sales platform for local products in Al Hoceima.
Moreover, other projects concerning the development of secondary roads, tertiary roads and tracks have been programmed as part of the program of reduction of territorial inequalities which provides a budget of MAD 1.3 billion for roads constructions.
Other projects have already been launched, such as the construction of the Oued Ghiss dam, which started on March 3, 2017 with a budget of MAD 1.3 billion.
Infrastructure
The city of Al Hoceima has a notable deficit in sports infrastructure. To meet this shortcoming, several new projects have been launched, including the Great Stadium of Al Hoceima.
Thus, tender No 276/2017/APDN for the earthworks related to the stadium’s construction was launched at a total cost of MAD 38.9 million. This new building with a total budget of MAD 250 million will start its construction works on June 30.
Other projects include maintenance work on the infrastructure and superstructure of the ports of Al Hoceima, Carla Iris, and Sidi Hsain for an estimated cost of MAD 905,000.
In addition, a call for tender was launched for an architectural study for the development of various facilities in the Al Hoceima port’s entertainment zone with a projected budget of MAD 19 million.
Apart from these calls for tenders, other projects are planned, such as work on roads and tracks as well as fishing infrastructure. In this regard, a call for tender has been launched for the upgrading of the towboat equipment in the port of Al Hoceima for an amount of MAD 2.6 million.
The Al Hoceima development program for the 2015-2019 period, launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015 under the title “Al Hoceima, the Mediterranean Lighthouse,” is a development mega-project.
The project aims to establish the city and its region as a true center of development and improve the living conditions of the local population.
Several projects are currently underway. For example, work on the construction of a multidisciplinary hospital in the province amounting to MAD 374 million and the upgrading and equipping of the Regional Center for Oncology with a MAD 15 million budget started last April.
A hemodialysis center is also being built, with the rate of progress of the construction work currently at 62 percent.
Roads and road infrastructure reinforcement projects are in the process of being implemented or in the launch phase, notably the road linking Targuist to Cala Iris which will facilitate direct access to the Mediterranean bypass for a large segment of the population.
