### English
His Majesty King Mohammed VI affirmed that the ambitious development program for the Southern Provinces has achieved "positive results," calling for opening new horizons for the development dynamic, particularly in promising sectors, the blue economy, and renewable energies.
In the Royal Speech addressed on Sunday evening to His faithful people on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the glorious Green March, His Majesty highlighted that this program falls within the framework of the approach adopted by the Kingdom in defending the Moroccanness of the Sahara, which is based on an integrated vision combining political and diplomatic action with the promotion of economic, social, and human development in the region.
The Sovereign noted that this integrated development program—whose signing ceremonies were chaired by His Majesty the King in Laayoune in November 2015 and in Dakhla in February 2016, with an allocated budget exceeding 77 billion dirhams—aims to launch a genuine economic and social dynamic, "create job and investment opportunities, and endow the region with the necessary infrastructure and facilities."
In this regard, His Majesty affirmed that this ambitious program "responds to the concerns and aspirations of the inhabitants of the Southern Provinces; and the local and elected authorities bear the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of its projects."
"Today, some seven years after its launch, We value the positive results that have been achieved, as the commitment rate stands at around 80 percent of the total budget allocated to it," added the Sovereign.
Furthermore, His Majesty the King highlighted the various projects launched under this ambitious program, noting the completion of the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway, which is in its final stages, the connection of the region to the national electricity grid, the strengthening and expansion of communication networks, as well as the completion of the planned solar and wind power plants.
His Majesty also indicated that construction work on the major Dakhla-Atlantic port will commence shortly, following the completion of the various studies and administrative procedures.
On the economic front, which serves as the primary engine for development, His Majesty the King emphasized that a series of projects have been carried out in the field of upgrading and processing fisheries products, which provides thousands of jobs for the people of the region.
In the agricultural sector, His Majesty stated that over six thousand hectares have been developed in Dakhla and Boujdour and placed at the disposal of young farmers from the region, adding that most of the planned projects in the phosphate, water, and sanitation sectors have reached an advanced rate of completion.
In addition, the Sovereign affirmed that the social and cultural sphere has witnessed several achievements in the fields of health, education, and training, the support for self-employment initiatives, and the promotion of the Hassani language and culture as a major component of the unified national identity.
In this context, His Majesty the King called on the private sector to continue promoting productive investment in these provinces, particularly in projects of a social nature.
On this occasion, the Sovereign called for opening new horizons for the development dynamic experienced by our Southern Provinces, particularly in promising sectors, the blue economy, and renewable energies.
After recalling that the Moroccan Sahara has historically constituted a human, spiritual, civilizational, and economic link between Morocco and its African depth, His Majesty the King underscored that the development work undertaken in the Sahara serves to consolidate this historical role and make it more open to the future.
On the other hand, His Majesty stressed that "loyalty to the spirit of the Green March and its eternal oath requires continuous mobilization and vigilance to defend the unity of the homeland, and to strengthen its progress and its connection to its African depth."
His Majesty the King concluded by saying, "We also express our tribute and appreciation to the Royal Armed Forces, the National Security, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Territorial Administration, the Auxiliary Forces, and the Civil Protection, for their dedication, under Our leadership, in defending the unity, security, and stability of the homeland."
His Majesty King Mohammed VI stated that Morocco is entering a new phase focused on strengthening national sovereignty, supporting economic recovery, and implementing the New Development Model. He also called on the government and Parliament to fully assume their responsibilities.
The United Nations praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s forward-looking vision for future generations, highlighting the importance of collective action to build a human-centered and sustainable development model. It also noted that this vision has become even more relevant in light of the challenges exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly social inequalities and the spread of misinformation.
The Council of the League of Arab States praised the efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to protect Al-Quds Al-Sharif and support the resilience of the Palestinian people. It also highlighted the fieldwork of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency in preserving the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.
