This is an opportunity to "take stock of the state of the Nation, by reviewing the achievements made and summarizing the projects and challenges that await us," said the Sovereign.
What has been achieved so far is not the result of chance, the Sovereign noted, but rather is linked to a long-term vision and reflects "the relevance of the major choices made in terms of development." Despite successive years of drought and the exacerbation of international crises, the Moroccan economy has maintained a steady and sustained growth rate. This is linked to the "unprecedented industrial revival." His Majesty the King emphasized the dynamism that has characterized industrial exports in recent years, particularly in Morocco's global trade. The automotive industry, aeronautics, renewable energy, and other sectors continue to perform well. These sectors "now constitute a key driver of our emerging economy, both in terms of investment and job creation.".
His Majesty the King also highlighted the progress made in infrastructure. Morocco boasts a new generation of "modern, robust infrastructure that meets global standards." This is evidenced by the new high-speed rail extension project to Marrakech, as well as projects in the areas of water, food, and energy security.
What impact will this have on citizens?
Beyond macroeconomic statistics, the effectiveness of development dynamics is measured by their impact on citizens' lives. "No level of economic and infrastructural development can satisfy Me if it does not effectively contribute to improving the living conditions of citizens, regardless of their social group or region," the Sovereign declared.
His Majesty the King set a new course by calling for the implementation of a new generation of public policies that better target the sources of disparities, taking into account the specific characteristics of each territory. He stated that "it is regrettable to note that some areas, particularly rural ones, still suffer from poverty and insecurity due to a lack of basic infrastructure and equipment." This situation "does not reflect the full extent of our efforts to strengthen social development and achieve spatial equity." For His Majesty the King, "there is no room, neither today nor tomorrow, for a Morocco moving forward at two speeds," hence the need for a fundamental overhaul to rethink how we operate.
«It is time to take a real leap forward in the overall revitalization of territorial spaces and in the fight against social and spatial disparities,» the Sovereign insisted. The Government, local elected officials, and various stakeholders, both at the national and local levels, are called upon to devise new approaches.
The objective is to "move from traditional frameworks of social development to an approach based on integrated territorial development." This will help reduce disparities between regions, and even within regions.
The Government is thus called upon to develop a new generation of territorial development programs.
On the political front, His Majesty the King emphasized the importance of beginning preparations for the upcoming elections now. With the 2026 parliamentary elections less than a year away, the Sovereign called for the swift finalization of projects related to this election. "We insist on the necessity of drafting the General Electoral Code for the House of Representatives so that it can be adopted and made public before the end of this year." This is one of the key legislative projects of the current legislature.
In the new vision for territorial development, the programs to be implemented must be designed according to a logic of coherence and convergence of the interventions of the various stakeholders. Indeed, these programs "must be able to rely on the pooling of efforts from all stakeholders and on their coordination around clearly defined priorities and projects that generate real impacts.".
This includes strengthening employment and creating new jobs, particularly by focusing on developing regional economic potential, while improving the local business climate to encourage investment and boost entrepreneurship. Basic social services, especially education and healthcare, must also be included in this new package. Another strategic issue to be addressed in the new approach is water security. His Majesty the King called for the adoption of a proactive and sustainable water resource management model in the face of increasing water stress and climate change.
In Morocco's diplomatic relations, beyond the progress made in defending the issue of territorial integrity, His Majesty the King emphasized the need to be and remain open to the regional environment, particularly its immediate neighbors. Despite Algeria's hostile maneuvers, Morocco continues to demonstrate wisdom and common sense. The Sovereign reiterated its offer of dialogue to Algeria. Morocco remains ready to engage in a frank and responsible, fraternal and sincere dialogue on the various outstanding issues between the two countries.
His Majesty the King reaffirmed that the Maghreb Union cannot be achieved without the joint involvement of Morocco and Algeria. In this endeavor, the Kingdom, which has made significant progress in supporting the Sahara Autonomy Initiative, does not wish to rely solely on these positions, but rather on the principles of law and legitimacy. This support further encourages "the search for a consensual solution that saves face for all parties, where there will be neither winners nor losers.".