In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“Praise be to God, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of God, and his family and companions.
My dear people,
The celebration of Throne Day is an annual occasion to renew the bonds of mutual allegiance and the feelings of love and loyalty that unite us constantly, which are only strengthened by the passage of time.
It is also an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation: the achievements we have made, the projects and challenges that await us, and our direction towards the future with confidence and optimism.
Since my ascent to the throne, we have worked on building a progressive, united, and cohesive Morocco, by promoting comprehensive economic and human development while ensuring its place among the club of emerging nations.
What our country has achieved was not by chance; it is the result of a long-term vision, sound major developmental choices, and the political and institutional stability enjoyed by Morocco.
Based on this solid foundation, we have committed to enhancing the pillars of economic and social ascent in line with the new development model, building a competitive and open economy; all within a sound and stable macroeconomic framework.
Despite the consecutive years of drought and escalating international crises, the national economy has maintained a significant and consistent growth rate in recent years.
Morocco is witnessing an unprecedented industrial renaissance, with industrial exports rising more than doubled since 2014, particularly those related to Morocco’s global professions.
Thanks to the strategic orientations adopted by Morocco, the automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, agri-food, and tourism sectors today serve as essential levers for our ascending economy, both in terms of investments and job creation.
The emerging Morocco is characterized by the diversity of its partners, being a land for investment and a responsible and reliable partner, with the national economy linked to nearly three billion consumers worldwide, thanks to free trade agreements.
Today, Morocco boasts modern and robust infrastructures with international standards.
To strengthen these infrastructures, we recently launched the extension works of the high-speed train line linking Kenitra to Marrakech, alongside several massive projects in the fields of water and food security and our country’s energy sovereignty.
My dear people,
You know well that I will not be satisfied, regardless of the level of economic development and infrastructure, if it does not contribute significantly to improving the living conditions of citizens from all social categories and in all regions. Therefore, we consistently place special importance on promoting human development, spreading social protection, and providing direct support to deserving households.
The results of the 2024 General Population Census have revealed various demographic, social, and spatial transformations that should be considered in the design and implementation of public policies.
For example, a significant decline in multidimensional poverty has been recorded nationally, dropping from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024.
Moreover, Morocco has this year exceeded the threshold of the Human Development Index, placing it among countries classified as having “high human development.”
Sadly, however, some areas, particularly in rural regions, continue to suffer from poverty and vulnerability due to a lack of infrastructure and basic services.
This does not align with our vision for today’s Morocco, nor with our efforts to promote social development and achieve spatial justice.
Today and tomorrow, there is no room for a Morocco that moves at two speeds.
My dear people,
The time has come to make a real shift in the comprehensive qualification of territorial areas and to address social and spatial gaps.
Therefore, we call for a transition from traditional approaches to social development to an integrated territorial development approach.
Our goal is for the fruits of progress and development to reach all citizens in all regions and areas, without discrimination or exclusion.
To this end, we have directed the government to adopt a new generation of territorial development programs, focused on valuing local specificities, consolidating advanced regionalism, and the principle of integration and solidarity among territorial areas.
These programs should unify the efforts of various stakeholders around clear priorities and impactful projects, specifically concerning:
- First: Supporting employment by enhancing regional economic capabilities and providing a conducive environment for local initiative and investment;
- Second: Strengthening basic social services, especially in education and health care, to preserve citizens’ dignity and affirm spatial justice;
- Third: Adopting proactive and sustainable management of water resources, in light of the increasing severity of water stress and climate change;
- Fourth: Launching integrated territorial qualification projects in harmony with the major national projects underway in the country.
My dear people,
As we are almost a year away from the upcoming legislative elections, scheduled in accordance with the constitutional and legal timeframe, we emphasize the necessity of establishing a comprehensive system framing the elections of the House of Representatives, which must be adopted and known before the end of this year.
In this context, I have given my directives to the Minister of the Interior to prepare well for the upcoming legislative elections and to open the door for political consultations with various stakeholders.
My dear people,
Alongside our commitment to cement Morocco’s position as an emerging nation, we affirm our dedication to openness towards our regional surroundings, particularly our direct neighbor, in our relationship with the brotherly Algerian people.
As the King of Morocco, my position is clear and steadfast: the Algerian people are a brotherly people, united with the Moroccan people by deep-rooted human and historical ties, connected by language, religion, geography, and a shared destiny.
Therefore, I have always sought to extend a hand to our brothers in Algeria, expressing Morocco’s readiness for honest and responsible dialogue; a fraternal and sincere dialogue regarding the various outstanding issues between our countries.
Our firm commitment to extending a hand to our brothers in Algeria stems from our belief in the unity of our peoples and our capacity together to overcome this unfortunate situation.
We also reaffirm our commitment to the Maghreb Union, confident that it cannot be achieved without the involvement of Morocco and Algeria, along with other brotherly nations.
On another note, we take pride in the increasing international support for the autonomy initiative as the sole solution to the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
In this context, we extend our thanks and appreciation to the friendly United Kingdom and the Republic of Portugal for their constructive stance supporting the autonomy initiative within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, thus reinforcing the positions of many countries around the world.
As proud as we are of these stances that advocate for justice and legitimacy, we equally emphasize our commitment to finding a consensual solution with no victors or vanquished, preserving the dignity of all parties.
My dear people,
On the occasion of commemorating Throne Day, we pay tribute to all components of our Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the local administration, the National Security, auxiliary forces, and civil protection for their dedication and ongoing mobilization under our leadership to defend the unity and security of the homeland.
We also solemnly remember the pure souls of Morocco’s honorable martyrs, foremost among them our forefathers and fathers, His Majesty Kings Mohammed V and Hassan II, may God bless their resting places.
In closing, I will quote the Almighty: “They should worship the Lord of this House, who fed them against hunger and secured them against fear.” God Almighty speaks the truth.
And peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings.”
