Mohammed VI presides over a Council of Ministers with very important decisions for Morocco

Strategic orientations of the State's shareholding policy, the military field and appointments of senior officials, among the transcendental topics of the meeting held at the Royal Palace in Casablanca

El rey Mohamed VI - PHOTO/FILE — Mohammed VI

Daniel Abascal

Updated: 03/06/24

Within the framework of a dynamic recovery of economic activity and employment, the increase in investments, the development of innovation and digitization in various sectors to increase the good results, with good data in the tourism sector with more than 13 million tourists with higher spending per person, with the industrialization process underway and adopting measures to address the harsh consequences of the drought and to help the most vulnerable, the Council of Ministers held Saturday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca under the presidency of King Mohammed VI is a further step in making important decisions for the present and future of Morocco.

The cabinet meeting was devoted, among other matters, to the adoption of the strategic orientations of the State's shareholding policy, a draft organic law and several draft decrees relating to the military field, as well as the appointments of senior officials, according to a press statement issued by the Royal Palace spokesman, Abdelhak El Mrini.

The text of the statement reads as follows

“His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, presided over a Council of Ministers meeting on Saturday June 1, 2024, corresponding to 23 Dou Al Kiada 1445H, at the Royal Palace in Casablanca. The meeting was devoted to the adoption of strategic guidelines for the State's shareholding policy, a draft organic law and a number of draft decrees relating to the military domain, as well as appointments to senior positions.

At the start of the Council's proceedings, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, made a presentation to His Majesty the King on the Strategic Orientations of the State's Shareholding Policy.

The Minister emphasized that the reform of the sector of public establishments and companies is in application of the High Royal Orientations, and aims to reconfigure the public portfolio and improve its management, and to carry out reforms in certain key sectors of the national economy, so as to ensure an accessible and high-quality public service offer, and to accelerate the development of the State's shareholding policy.

She noted that the State's shareholding policy represents one of the pillars of the reform of the sector of public establishments and companies, the implementation of which is the responsibility of the National Agency for the Strategic Management of State Holdings. It also reflects the strategic orientations and overall objectives of the State's shareholding, its role in the governance of public establishments and companies, and the way in which it implements this policy.

Nadia Fettah Alaoui, ministre de l’Economie et des Finances. copia — Nadia Fettah Alaoui

The Minister explained that the State's shareholding policy is structured around the following seven strategic orientations:

First: Establish the public sector as a strategic lever for consolidating national sovereignty by supporting the State's efforts in a range of vital sectors, in particular energy, health, water, food security, the environment, connectivity and mobility.

Second: to make the public sector a driving force behind continental and international integration, helping to meet geostrategic challenges, safeguard the Kingdom's interests and strengthen South-South cooperation, particularly with sister African countries.

Third: Make the public sector a pillar for boosting private investment through the establishment of proactive partnerships with the private sector, with a view to complementing and reinforcing the private sector's contribution to the national economic dynamic.

Fourth: Make the public sector a catalyst for a competitive economy and a vehicle for sharing added value and promoting productive employment, in particular by supporting viable, agile business models in line with regulatory requirements, the competitive environment and market opportunities.

Fifth: Establish the public sector as an active player in territorial equity, in the service of economic, social, financial and digital inclusion, within the framework of advanced regionalization, while ensuring territorial equity and guaranteeing equitable access for citizens to quality public services.

Sixth: Make the public sector a responsible steward of resources, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, by strengthening the contribution of public institutions and enterprises to promoting responsible management of natural resources and strengthening the country's resilience to the challenges of climate change.

Seventh: Strengthen the exemplary role of public establishments and companies in terms of governance and performance, by actively managing its public portfolio of holdings or divestments, with the aim of optimizing the value of the tangible and intangible assets of public establishments and companies, and improving their performance.

After adopting the strategic guidelines for the State's shareholding policy, the Council of Ministers examined and approved the draft organic law amending and supplementing the organic law on appointments to senior positions. This draft text proposes

- To add the following establishments to the list of strategic public establishments, whose heads are appointed after deliberation by the Council of Ministers:

The Grand Atlas Development Agency ;

The National Social Assistance Agency ;

The High Authority for Health;

Territorial health groups;

The Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products;

The Moroccan Agency for Blood and Blood Derivatives.

- To remove the Institut Supérieur de la Magistrature from the list of strategic public establishments. The Director of this institution will be appointed by His Majesty the King on the proposal of the President Delegate of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of the law relating to the reorganization of this Institute.

- To include the position of “President of the General Council for Agricultural Development” in the list of senior positions in public establishments, the heads of which are appointed after deliberation by the Council of Government.

Subsequently, the Council of Ministers approved four decrees relating to the military domain, and this in concretization of the High solicitude which His Majesty the King, Supreme Leader and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, never ceases to grant to the promotion of the professional and social conditions of the members of the FAR. These are the following draft decrees:

- Draft decree on the creation of two defense industrial acceleration zones aimed at setting up industrial zones to accommodate defense industries relating to defense and security equipment, weapons and munitions.

- Draft decree amending and supplementing the decree on the special status of the body of research teachers in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. It aims to enshrine scientific and academic excellence as a fundamental criterion for access to the profession of teacher-researcher and to professional promotion, to streamline procedures for professional promotion and to grant a functional allowance to teachers in charge of departments and centers within military hospital establishments, following the example of teachers in charge of hospital services within these establishments.

- Draft decree amending and supplementing the decree establishing the National Coordination Committee for Hydrography, Oceanography and Marine Cartography. It adds the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad or his representative to the members of the said Committee.

- Draft decree supplementing the decree on the status of military attachés, their deputies and other military personnel assigned to them. Its purpose is to create the post of military attaché at the Kingdom's Embassy in Brasilia, to consolidate ties with the State of Brazil.

And in accordance with article 49 of the Constitution and on the proposal of the Head of Government :

On the initiative of the Minister of Equipment and Water, His Majesty the King, may God preserve Him, has kindly appointed :

- Mr Mustapha Farès, Director General of the National Ports Agency (ANP);

- Mr. Mohammed Cherkaoui Eddeqaqi, Managing Director of Société nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM);

On the initiative of the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, His Majesty the King has appointed :

- Mr. Tarik Hammane, Managing Director of the Office national de l'Electricité et de l'Eau portable (ONEE);

- Mr. Tarik Moufaddal, Chairman and CEO of Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN);

At the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Logistics, the Sovereign, may God glorify Him, has appointed Mr. Adil El Fakir Managing Director of the Office national des Aéroports (ONDA).

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