King visits Plan Azur site of Saïdia

His Majesty King Mohammed VI proceeded yesterday to Saïdia, to the launch of several projects of urban and tourist upgrade of the city, whose realization will require a global cost of the order of 369 million DH The Sovereign also chaired the ceremony of an agreement concerning the project of purification of the city centre of Saïdia and the tourist complex (20 million DH), the organization of the promenade of Saïdia (74 million DH) and the project of organization of the entrances to the city (21 million DH). The signature of this agreement intervenes in application of the High Royal orientations contained in the speech pronounced on March 18th 2003 in Oujda, aiming at the development of the Eastern Region and at the creation of a new tourist station at Saïdia. It translates the interest which takes on the operation of urban upgrade of this city, considered as a tourist area par excellence because it will have one of the largest national sea resorts within the framework of the “Vision 2010”. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Tourism, the delegate in charge of the Environment and the Town planning, the Head office of Local governments, Wilaya of the Eastern Region , council of the Eastern Region, province of Berkane, the Agency of Development of Provinces and Prefecture of the Eastern Region l, ONEP and municipality of Saïdia. Involving the project of purification of the city center of Saïdia and the tourist complex, which consists of the construction of a network of waste water and rain water drainage 70 km in length and of 5 pumping plants. The first section of this project, which will benefit a population of 130.000 inhabitants, will require a budget of the order of 20 million DH. The financing of this project is assured by the National Office of Water and the group FADESA. As for the project of organization of the entrances of the city of Saïdia, it concerns the doubling of the provincial road 6.000 (south entrance of the city on a 2 km length) and the main road N 16 (entered by the city northwest side on a 3 km length). This project, which will mobilize investments of the order of 21 million DH, also foresees the creation of a new connection between the provincial road 6.000 and the loop road on a distance of 1,5 km. The works of this project will begin in mid-January and to end at about July 2007. The project of development of the promenade of Saïdia and the restoration of Kasba project, among others, the development of green spaces (adaptation of palm trees oasis), the lighting of the promenade (lampposts) and the provision of pavilions, showers, sporting areas etc. H.M. The King also followed explanations on the project of construction of the way of drainage and a canal of protection of the city of Saïdia and the new tourist resort of the city against the floods 17 km in length. This project will be realized by the Ministry in charge of Water resources. At an overall cost of 254 million DH, this project, the duration of execution of which is of 18 months, will be financed by the Fund of Hassan II for the economic and social development and the Ministry of Tourism, Crafts and Social Economy. The project will allow to facilitate the access to the tourist resort of Saïdia, to attract more tourist investments and to strengthen the road juncture between Ahfir-Saïdia and Oujda-Ahfir. In his arrival, H.M. The King reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard who returned the honors before being greeted by Karim Ghellab, Minister of Equipment and Transport, Adil Douiri, Minister of Tourism, Craft and Social Economy, Toufiq Hjira, Minister of State in charge of the Environment and the Town planning and Abbdelkébir Zahoud, Secretary of State for Water. The Sovereign was also greeted by the general manager of local governments, the wali of the Eastern Region and the governor of the prefecture of Oujda-Angad, the general manager of the Agency of development of the Eastern Region, the governor of the province of Berkane, the president of council of the region, the municipal president of council, the general manager of the ONEP, the director of the regional Office of agricultural development, the elected members, representatives of the local authorities and by other personalities.