In a statement to the members of UN’s Committee of 24 (C-24), held in Indonesia’s Bali (May 24-26) on the occasion of its regional seminar for the Pacific, Abba stressed that these Southern Provinces are undergoing a rhythm of structuring and strategic development projects.
Morocco, ever since it “achieved its territorial integrity after recuperating the Sahara in 1975, has made the irreversible choice to capitalize on this achievement by making great efforts and creating new opportunities for the development of these provinces,” he noted.
Abba, who participates in the seminar at the invitation of the C-24 President as a democratically elected representative of the Moroccan Sahara region, cited HM the King’s speech on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Green March. In this speech, HM the King had emphasized that the action “to defend the Moroccanness of the Sahara is based on a holistic approach that combines not only political and diplomatic action, but also efforts to promote economic, social and human development in the region.”
Abba further noted that the 1975-initiated process has been reinforced by the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, launched by HM the King in 2015, infdicating that this model has mobilized all energies to stimulate the development processin areas of high added value, with the aim of ensuring the dignity of citizens of the Moroccan Sahara.
In line with the priorities of this model and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, economic, social, energy and infrastructure projects have accelerated the transformation of the Sahara into a booming economic pole that benefits the local population, as well as a promising gateway for investment in Africa, he argued.
The elected representative of the Moroccan Sahara said that nearly MAD 29.12 billion have been invested in Laayoune-Sakia Al Hamra for the implementation of 90 projects to support production sectors, such as phosphates, agriculture, aquaculture, industry, renewable energy, marine fisheries and ecotourism.
Morocco is represented, at this regional seminar of the UN’s C-24 for the Pacific region, by a delegation chaired by its permanent representative at the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale. This delegation also includes Ambassador to Indonesia Ouadia Benabdellah and the director of the UN and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Redouane Houssaini.
