The Council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region approved on Monday during its ordinary session in March, five draft partnership agreements for the rehabilitation and development of the former Medinas of Chefchaouen, Ouezzane, Ksar El Kebir, Larache and Tangier, for a budget of 1.86 billion Dirhams (MMDH).
These agreements, to which the Council of the region contributes with an amount of 267 million Dirhams (MDH), aim at preserving the cultural and urban heritage of the old Medinas of the region and investing for local development and the reinforcement of the tourist and economic attractiveness. The Tangier Medina will benefit from the largest amount under these agreements with 850 MDH, followed by Larache (338 MDH), Ksar El Kébir (315 MDH), Ouezzane (242 MDH) and Chefchaouen (115 MDH).
Speaking on this occasion, the wali of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, Mohamed Mhidia, highlighted the special royal attention that the program for the rehabilitation and enhancement of the ancient Medinas enjoys, noting that the region has a benchmark in the upgrading of ancient Medinas, including the distinguished and successful experience of rehabilitation of the ancient Medina of Tetouan. “Thanks to the model of rehabilitation of the old Medina of Tetouan, we have a reference system of which we should be proud,” he noted, noting that “the second phase of the rehabilitation program of Tetouan is on the right track”.
Experiences have been accumulated around the upgrading of traditional hotels, the restoration of facades and the renovation of buildings in danger of ruin, he said, stressing the importance of involving civil society and local architects in the restoration of the ancient Medinas. According to these partnership agreements, which last between 2020 and 2024, the work will focus on the axes of “rehabilitation of urban areas”, “restoration and rehabilitation of heritage”, “restoration and rehabilitation of places of worship” and “strengthening the tourist and economic attractiveness of the old Medinas”.
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