Morocco’s achievements in this respect were presented to the American delegation, led by President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor of Columbus, Ohio, Andrew Ginther, during a meeting at the headquarters of the Moroccan Association of Mayors (AMPCC).
On this occasion, AMPCC President, Mounir Laymouri, said that this meeting was a new milestone in bilateral cooperation between Moroccan communal councils and the mayors of various American cities and local authorities, particularly in the fields of local democracy, local management and territorial governance.
Laymouri, who is also Mayor of Tangier, stressed Morocco’s commitment to these fields, stating that the success of the southern provinces development model showcases “the firm determination to meet the challenge of sustainable development within the framework of the decentralization and advanced regionalization system.”
“It is not by luck that our country hosts the headquarters of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and had previously hosted the Africities Summit and COP22,” he said, recalling that Morocco is also part of UCLG-World’s presidency through AMPCC.
For her part, Mayor of Rabat, Fatiha El Moudni, highlighted that this visit was an opportunity to explore concrete opportunities to strengthen ties between American mayors and their Moroccan peers, as well as to “mutually benefit from our experiences for the benefit of future generations.”
“Thanks to the enlightened vision of HM the King, several reforms and strategies have been initiated with the aim of strengthening competitiveness and accelerating territorial growth throughout the country,” she added, noting that the mission of mayors is to meet the needs of citizens, by working for dynamic, resilient and inclusive cities.
The members of the American delegation, for their part, stressed the paramount importance of HM the King’s vision for the development of Moroccan cities, adding that the U.S. mayors and their Moroccan peers are on the front line in meeting the needs of the population and serving them effectively.
They mentioned the key challenges facing American cities in the fields of housing, safety and mobility, pointing out that 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban centers, and that this percentage will rise to 70% by 2050.
The members of the American delegation also followed a presentation on the structure of the AMPCC, which brings together 1503 local authorities, as well as on the general framework of decentralization, the powers of local councils, and the Association’s missions and activities.
The AMPCC’s objectives are to create bonds of solidarity between Mayors in order to reinforce their role as local development players, and to strengthen cooperation between local authorities at national level and promote the exchange of experience and best practice.
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