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Marrakech - H.M. King Mohammed VI chaired this Monday the construction start of the project "Marrakech city of permanent renewal" that reflects the Sovereign's strong will to secure a balanced, integrated and sustainable development of the ochre city.

Chairwoman of the Urban commune of Marrakech, Fatima-Ezzahra El Mansouri underscored in a speech delivered on this occasion the objectives of this four year program (2014-2017) that will promote the city to the level of international metropolises.

Based on a innovating approach which consists in overarching, integrated and coherent public actions, the project will support the city's urban and demographic development, consolidate its economic attractiveness, reinforce its status as a world tourism pole, improve social, cultural and sports infrastructures  and promote human development indicators.

The program, requiring 6.3 billion MAD in investments, revolves around developing cultural legacy, improving urban mobility and integration, promoting good governance and preserving environment.

The Marrakech, city of permanent renewal project features the establishment of a city of folk arts, a museum of immaterial legacy, a music academy, a museum of Moroccan water civilization and renovation of the Royal theater, of the Zaouiya El Kettania, of walls and old gates.

Several avenues and streets around the project will be upgraded, while the bus station will be transferred, a new information system will be used to organize traffic and accessibility of disabled persons will be enhanced.

The project further includes a tourism promotion component, building two public hospitals, two health center and 18 schools in addition to renovating 8 existing schools.

The project further includes a citizen space, new public markets, six swimming pools, new mosques and Koran-teaching schools and the upgrading of some districts.

Concerning the promotion of good governance, the project includes the modernization of communal services management, generalizing the use of new information and communications technologies, rationalizing communal property management and establishing a digital monitoring system.

On this occasion, HM the King chaired the signing ceremony of two conventions: a framework convention related to the project was signed by interior minister Mohamed Hassad, habous and islamic affairs minister, Ahmed Toufiq, housing and urban policy minister, Mohamed Nabil Benabdellah, education and vocational training minister Rachid Belmokhtar, equipment, transport and logistics minister Aziz Rebbah, youth and sports minister, Mohamed Ouzzine, health minister El Hossaine Louardi, and culture minister, Mohamed Amine Sbihi.

Other signatories of the framework convention include delegate minister for environment Hakima El Haïti, delegate minister in charge of water, Charafat Yadri Afilal, wali of the Marrakech-Tensift -Al Haouz region Mohamed Faouzi, chair of the urban commune of Marrakech, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, chair of the prefecture council of Marrakech, Jamila Afif, chair of the urban commune of Mechouar Kasbah Mohamed Fouad El Houri, and general manager of the authority of water and electricity distribution, Mustapha El Habti.

A second convention establishing a regional tourism promotion fund was also signed. The 400 million MAD convention provides for reinforced cooperation between signatories in air transport, communication, conferences, tourism vents, thematic offers and products.

The Sovereign also launched the Mhamid citizen space project (189 million MAD), which is an integral part of the Marrakech, city of permanent renewal project. The space will feature a polyvalent sports hall, a swimming pool, football and rugby stadiums, a mini-football stadium, a library, a music academy and a mosque.

It will also comprise a center for persons with specific needs, an exhibition space of handicraft products, a playground, a center for associations and a shelter for the elderly.

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