HIBAPRESS – A. Muhyawi
The city of Fez has recently witnessed a rapid developmental dynamic, led by the regional authorities under the supervision of the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, the governor of the Fez prefecture, Khalid Ait Taleb, who has made a strong field presence since his appointment, which made him described as "the eye that does not sleep" in following up on various projects.
This dynamic falls within the framework of an integrated vision aimed at rehabilitating the city and enhancing its economic and tourism attractiveness, where a package of structural projects was launched, supervised by Fez for development company, led by its director Hisham Al-Qurtasi, through an approach based on efficiency in management and accelerating the pace of completion. These projects included the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the modernization of road axes, and the valorization of public spaces, in addition to programs aimed at preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of the city, with a view to enhancing its position as a tourist and investment destination. This development workshop also reflects the general trend towards achieving integrated spatial development, based on coordination between the various stakeholders. In this context, the experience of Wali Khalid Ait Taleb enjoys the confidence of the Ministry of Interior, given his experience in managing territorial affairs and accompanying major projects, which has contributed to giving a strong boost to a number of projects that were slow to implement. However, this developmental momentum was not without tensions at the level of the Fez community, where attempts by some political actors emerged to employ these projects in narrow contexts, and to seek to attribute them to specific parties, despite the fact that they fall within the framework of clear institutional programs and are framed by a comprehensive strategic vision. Observers believe that the success of these projects remains contingent on prioritizing the public interest, avoiding any political employment, with the need to enhance transparency and link responsibility with accountability, in a way that guarantees the continuity of projects and achieves the expected positive impact on improving the quality of life of the population. Between the bets of development and the constraints of local management, the city of Fez remains before a real opportunity to reposition itself as a prominent urban and economic pole, provided that the efforts of all stakeholders are combined, and a serious engagement in the success of this promising developmental dynamic.
