In a significant move towards enhancing regional development, the Fes-Meknes Regional Council convened an extraordinary session on Wednesday in Fes, where it approved nine partnership agreements aimed at executing various developmental projects. The highlight of these initiatives is the construction of a large stadium in the city of Meknes, with a total financial envelope nearing 600 million dirhams. This ambitious project is set to bolster the region's infrastructure in anticipation of Morocco's preparations to host the 2030 World Cup.
The partnership agreement for the stadium project involves multiple stakeholders: the Ministry of National Education, Preschool Education, and Sports will contribute 150 million dirhams, while the Fes-Meknes region will provide 100 million dirhams. Additionally, the Meknes Prefectural Council will contribute 10 million dirhams, the Meknes municipality will add 30 million dirhams, and the Al-Mashour municipality will provide another 10 million dirhams. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is the largest contributor, pledging 300 million dirhams. This agreement outlines the contributions of the various parties involved, as well as the general terms concerning the management and operation of the stadium.
During the session, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was designated as the project owner, while the National Agency for Public Equipment will oversee the delegated project ownership. In a statement to the Moroccan News Agency, the President of the Fes-Meknes Regional Council, Abdellah Ansari, emphasized that this sports facility will significantly enhance the region's value, especially considering Morocco's role in hosting participating teams for the upcoming World Cup.
In addition to the stadium, the council approved a partnership agreement to develop a training institute for construction and public works in Fes, which includes updates to a previously adopted agreement from July 2025. The overall cost of this project is estimated at 14 million dirhams, with 9.8 million dirhams coming from the regional council and 4.2 million dirhams from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
Furthermore, council members approved a project agreement for the construction of a road to the Ras El Ma logistics area in the Moulay Yacoub province, aimed at enhancing accessibility and improving traffic flow in this economic zone. The total cost of this project is 30 million dirhams, with the region contributing approximately 25 million dirhams and the Ain Chkaf municipality, as the project owner, contributing 5 million dirhams.
The council also endorsed a special agreement addressing the development and paving of rural roads in the Taounate province, part of a regional development program aimed at reducing social and spatial disparities, with a total financial commitment nearing 20 million dirhams. Additionally, they approved an amendment to a partnership agreement aimed at enhancing the Royal Gendarmerie's logistics capabilities in the Fes-Meknes region, which now also includes the establishment of a gendarmerie barracks in Ifrane.
The total financial outlay for this project is 20 million dirhams, allocated between 6 million dirhams for the acquisition of vehicles for the regional gendarmerie and 14 million dirhams for the construction of the new barracks in Ifrane. Another critical project approved by the council is the construction of a new prison facility in the Safrou province, designed to accommodate up to 1,000 inmates, with an estimated cost of 120 million dirhams, involving contributions from the regional council, the Safrou Prefectural Council, and the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration.
The regional council's share for this prison project amounts to 30 million dirhams, while the General Delegation will contribute 60 million dirhams, with other partners sharing a total of 30 million dirhams. In a bid to enhance environmental standards, the council also approved a special agreement to strengthen the air quality monitoring network in the Fes-Meknes area, with a financial allocation of 8 million dirhams, as part of the national air quality monitoring program spanning from 2020 to 2030.
This initiative aims to increase the number of air quality monitoring stations in the region from nine to fifteen by 2030. Lastly, the council approved an agreement to enhance and expand the traditional crafts activity area in Benjlik, along with the construction of access roads, with a total financial commitment of nearly 58 million dirhams, which includes a 38 million dirham contribution from the region and support from the State Secretariat for Traditional Crafts.
These initiatives reflect the council's commitment to improving the living conditions of citizens, enhancing the region's appeal, and bolstering its economic, tourism, and social competitiveness in line with the ongoing developmental dynamics across various provinces and districts of the region.
As reported by kifache.com.
