His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, presided, this Wednesday 04 December 2024, corresponding to the 02 Joumada II 1446 H, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a Council of Ministers.
At the start of the Council's work, M. Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, budget officer, and president of the World Cup Committee 2030, presented a presentation before His Majesty the King, may God preserve him, on the progress of the Kingdom's preparations for the organization of this international sporting event.
The Minister reviewed the different phases completed by Morocco's candidacy file, since the announcement by His Majesty the King, may God glorify Him, the 14 mars 2023 in Kigali, of the presentation of the joint candidacy with Spain and Portugal for the organization of the World Cup 2030, as well as the announcement by the Sovereign to the Moroccan people, the 04 October 2023, of the decision of the Council of the International Football Federation (FIFA) to unanimously retain the Morocco-Spain-Portugal file as a single application, which triggered an exceptional mobilization to prepare an application file meeting the requirements and prerequisites of the FIFA specifications.
The Minister added that this tripartite candidacy submitted to FIFA on 29 July 2024 is the result of strong and unprecedented mobilization on the part of the working groups created for this purpose, particularly at the level of ministerial departments, public establishments and companies as well as local authorities and local authorities concerned.
The evaluation report of the application file, which has just been published by FIFA on 29 November 2024, awarded an exceptional score far exceeding the required requirements and this, ahead of the vote, If God wills, of the attribution of the organization of the World Cup 2030 to the Morocco-Spain-Portugal tripartite candidacy, at the next extraordinary congress of the FIFA Council.
To meet the challenge of an organization that lives up to the aspirations of His Majesty the King, may God help him, The Minister indicated that it will be carried out, in execution of High Royal Directives, the establishment of a committee with a broader composition, including representatives of civil society, Moroccans around the world, as well as African skills.
Mobilization will be further strengthened in coordination with all stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of all strategic and structuring projects relating to the organization of this international event., in particular :
-Stadium upgrades ;
-The expansion and renovation of the airports of the six host cities ;
-Strengthening road infrastructure and densifying intra-urban networks ;
-The launch of an integrated territorial upgrade program that extends beyond the host cities of World Cup matches.
-The development of hotel and commercial infrastructures ;
-Strengthening and modernizing the medical offer ;
-The development and modernization of telecommunications networks ;
-The launch of a vast training program to strengthen the skills of young people.
At the end of his speech, The minister said that the World Cup 2030 will not just be a sporting competition, but also a unique opportunity to accelerate the growth dynamic of the national economy over the coming years, create more job opportunities and help develop the country’s tourist attractiveness and promote the universal values of peace, of unity and sustainable development.
Afterwards, the Council of Ministers approved six international conventions, including four bilateral and two multilateral, aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnership relations linking Morocco to several brotherly and friendly countries, and to consolidate its positioning at the continental and international levels.
Bilateral conventions concern the development of cooperation with a number of friendly European countries and relate to the mutual recognition of driving licenses, areas of criminal cooperation and improving efficiency in the fight against cross-border crime, as well as on military and technical cooperation.
The two multilateral conventions cover offenses and certain other acts occurring on board aircraft., as well as on the Charter establishing the Digital Cooperation Organization.
And in accordance with the provisions of article 49 of the Constitution and on the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, His Majesty the King, may God glorify Him, kindly appointed Mr. Zouhair Chorfi, President of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority.
In this regard, His Majesty the King has given His High Directions to examine an overhaul of this body with a view to its transformation into a National Regulatory Authority for the energy sector, through the revision of the relevant law, the expansion of its remit to encompass, besides electricity, all components of the energy sector, namely natural gas, new energies such as hydrogen and its derivatives, as well as the areas of production, storage, transport and distribution, in order to be in line with the level of maturity that the energy sector has reached in our country, and in compliance with international best practices in this area.