Highlights

The signing ceremony with the World Bank of two guarantee agreements related to the regional piped water supply project

23/08/2010
The signing ceremony with the World Bank of two guarantee agreements related to the regional piped water supply project

Mr. Salaheddine MEZOUAR, Minister of Economy and Finance together with Mrs. Francoise CLOTTES, Acting Director of Maghreb Department at the World Bank, signed Thursday, August 19th 2010, at the headquarters of the Ministry, two guarantee agreements on regional piped water supply project in rural and urban areas and on the Oum Er Rbia sanitation project.

 

During the ceremony, Mr. Ali Fassi Fihri, Director General of ONEP and Mrs. Françoise CLOTTES signed two loan agreements related to the aforementioned projects.

In his speech, Mr. MEZOUAR focused on the privileged cooperation relations that Morocco holds with the World Bank. He noted that these relations, which were further strengthened in recent years, make this institution one of the main funds providers that accompanies our country in its efforts to promote economic growth and fight against poverty.

* As to the loan related to regional piped water supply project in rural and urban areas which will receive nearly $ 175 million ($ 1.45 billion DH), Mr. MEZOUAR reported that this project aims to increase access to safe drinking water for people in the provinces of Nador and Driouch, Safi, Youssoufia and Sidi Bennour and Errachidia. He also noted that water sector is a major government priority and that Morocco made significant progress in drinking water supply either in rural or urban areas.

* Regarding the Oum Er Rbia sanitation project which will receive nearly $ 43 million (360 million DH), the Minister stated that the project aims to increase access to sanitation services and reduce water pollution in the provinces of Beni Mellal, Azilal, Settat and Safi, Khouribga and Youssoufia on the one hand and to test non-conventional technologies for wastewater systems on the other. He recalled that the World Bank loan will support the efforts of the Government within the framework of the Sanitation National Plan.

At the end of this ceremony, Mr. MEZOUAR and Mrs. CLOTTES welcomed the relations linking Morocco and the World Bank within the strategic Partnership Framework (CPS 2010-2013). The implementation of this cooperation has led, up to this day, to the signing of seven loan agreements amounting approximately to 729 million dollars covering both reform and investment projects. The signing ceremony was attended by Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment.