Morocco calls on African local governments to close ranks against international economic crisis

Marrakech - Morocco on Wednesday called on African local governments to close the ranks to take up the challenges imposed by the i

Marrakech - Morocco on Wednesday called on African local governments to close the ranks to take up the challenges imposed by the international economic crisis

    "Local governments are the most affected by this crisis due to the overlap in their development programmes," Moroccan Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said at the opening of the 5th Pan-African Local Government Days (Africities), held in Marrakech (December 16-20).

    He said that the Pan-African Local Government Days shows the interest of African countries to international issues and challenges raised by the international situation that is marked by profound changes.

    North-South cooperation contributed in the past to support development programmes in all African countries, Benmoussa noted, stressing the need to capitalize on this achievement and to adopt a new approach that is more oriented towards South-South cooperation.

    This approach, he said, requires the promotion of local investment and job creation, the preservation of the environment, the reduction of social inequalities, the fight against poverty, and the promotion of income-generating projects.

    To face current challenges, Benmoussa said that Morocco initiated several large-scale projects to modernize its economy, create wealth and employment and promote the participatory approach.

    The North African country also adopted a policy to support local governments to ensure their development by mobilizing their financial and human resources and implementing sectoral programs to strengthen their infrastructure and their potential in order to meet the growing needs of the population.

Source: MAP

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