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The Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced that King Mohammed VI will chair the opening of the first session of the second legislative year of the 11th legislature at the Parliament on Friday, October 14, 2022. His Majesty will deliver a Royal Speech to the members of both Houses of Parliament, which will be broadcast live on radio and television starting at 4:45 PM.
King Mohammed VI delivered a Royal Speech opening the legislative year, focusing on two major national priorities: addressing water scarcity and promoting investment. Regarding water, His Majesty called for a strict end to all forms of waste and the illegal exploitation of groundwater, emphasizing the need for innovation and recognizing water policy as a shared, cross-sectoral responsibility. On investment, he called for a comprehensive national mobilization, announcing a "National Investment Pact" aimed at mobilizing 550 billion dirhams and creating 500,000 jobs between 2022 and 2026, while stressing the importance of simplifying procedures, implementing administrative deconcentration, and supporting the investment initiatives of the Moroccan diaspora.
In his speech opening the legislative year, King Mohammed VI called for a serious and responsible approach to Morocco's "structural water stress," emphasizing the need to end all forms of water waste and avoid politicizing this vital issue. His Majesty outlined four main orientations to address the crisis: launching ambitious initiatives, utilizing technology for wastewater reuse, protecting groundwater from illegal exploitation, and recognizing water policy as a shared national responsibility that requires awareness of its true cost. He also urged the accelerated implementation of the National Priority Program for Water (2020-2027) to ensure the Kingdom's water security amid severe drought conditions.
Following a message from King Mohammed VI to the new Kenyan President, William Ruto, Kenya announced the withdrawal of its recognition of the so-called "Saharawi Republic" and the closure of its representation in Nairobi. Kenya expressed its full support for Morocco's autonomy plan as the sole solution to the dispute under the UN framework. The royal message, delivered by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, also led to an agreement to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, with Kenya pledging to open an embassy in Rabat and accelerate cooperation in agriculture, food security, and various economic sectors.
In his speech marking the 69th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, King Mohammed VI affirmed that the Moroccan Sahara issue is the prism through which Morocco views the world and the definitive benchmark for measuring the sincerity of its partnerships. His Majesty urged partners with ambiguous stances to clarify their positions, while praising the growing international support for the Autonomy Initiative. He specifically highlighted the firm stance of the United States, the historic support of Spain, and the broad backing from European, Arab, African, and Latin American nations, evidenced by the opening of numerous consulates in the southern provinces. The King also emphasized the importance of a united domestic front and the diaspora's role in defending the Kingdom's territorial integrity.
In his speech marking the 69th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, King Mohammed VI called for the creation of a special mechanism to support and accompany Moroccan talents and competences abroad, including Moroccan Jews. His Majesty urged public and financial institutions to facilitate diaspora investments by leveraging the incentives of the new Investment Charter. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to modernize the institutional framework dedicated to Moroccans of the world and to eliminate the administrative hurdles hindering their projects, while praising their unwavering defense of the Kingdom's territorial integrity.
In the Throne Speech, King Mohammed VI called for extending a hand to the Algerian presidency to establish normal relations between the two fraternal peoples, based on historical ties and a shared destiny. His Majesty affirmed Morocco's keenness to overcome the current situation and foster rapprochement and communication, emphasizing that the borders separating the two nations will never act as a barrier to mutual understanding, but rather as bridges toward the future. The King also warned against irresponsible campaigns and malicious allegations aimed at igniting discord and offending neighbors, stressing that Moroccans will always stand by their Algerian brothers under all circumstances.
In the 2022 Throne Speech, King Mohammed VI called for strengthening national solidarity and firmly combating speculation and price manipulation, highlighting that intentional obstacles for personal gain threaten development and investment. While noting the national economy's resilience, His Majesty explained that recent price hikes stem from global factors and a modest agricultural season. To protect citizens, he highlighted the launch of anti-drought programs and the doubling of the Compensation Fund budget to over 32 billion dirhams to subsidize basic goods. Finally, the King urged the government and economic sectors to remain optimistic, seize investment opportunities, and remove barriers facing foreign investors.
In his 23rd Throne Day speech, King Mohammed VI focused on four main pillars. First, he called for the full empowerment and participation of Moroccan women, urging the correct implementation and potential revision of the Family Code within the framework of Islamic Sharia. Second, he highlighted the successful management of the COVID-19 crisis and stressed the acceleration of universal social protection, health coverage, and family allowances through the Unified Social Register. Third, addressing economic challenges, he noted the doubling of the Compensation Fund to stabilize prices, warned against market speculation, and called for the swift removal of barriers hindering foreign investment. Finally, His Majesty renewed an earnest call to the Algerian presidency to open borders and normalize bilateral relations, firmly rejecting any insults toward Algerians and emphasizing the shared destiny of the two brotherly nations.
King Mohammed VI chaired a Council of Ministers dedicated to approving strategic legal texts and senior appointments. The Council adopted the framework law for the National Health System, which rests on four pillars: good governance, valorization of human resources, upgrading the health offering, and digitalization. It also approved the new Investment Charter framework law to boost Morocco's attractiveness, create stable jobs, and support enterprises. Additionally, the Council greenlit a draft law regulating civilian firearms, decrees on dual-use goods and new military attachés in India and Turkey, alongside 16 international agreements. The meeting concluded with royal appointments to key strategic institutions and the presentation of a new organizational framework for the Moroccan Jewish community, establishing a National Council, a Committee for Moroccan Jews Abroad, and a Foundation of Moroccan Judaism to preserve this cultural heritage.
In a Royal Message to the African Caucus of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Marrakech, King Mohammed VI outlined the profound economic and social challenges facing Africa due to consecutive global crises, notably inflation, mounting debt burdens, and climate change. His Majesty called for moving beyond temporary debt relief solutions toward structural reforms that mobilize domestic resources, while urging the international community to honor its climate finance commitments to help the continent adapt. The King also emphasized the critical need to accelerate the digital transition to foster job creation, enhance financial inclusion, and develop new production models. Ultimately, His Majesty reaffirmed that South-South cooperation remains the optimal path for development, highlighting the strategic importance of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the swift operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a royal message addressed to the African Caucus of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Marrakech, King Mohammed VI called for enhanced international support to help African nations mitigate the impacts of global inflation, supply chain disruptions, and mounting debt burdens. To overcome these structural challenges, His Majesty emphasized the need for comprehensive development programs with innovative financing mechanisms and the swift operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost economic integration. The King also reaffirmed that South-South cooperation remains the optimal path for the continent's progress, highlighting Morocco's steadfast commitment through strategic structuring projects, notably the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, to ensure African energy security.
