Nizar Baraka: "Coastal Cities Will Become Suppliers of Drinking Water for Inland Cities"
During the 16th edition of the MEDays Forum, held from November 27 to 30, 2024, in Tangier under the theme "Sovereignties and Resilience: Towards a New Global Balance," Nizar Baraka, Morocco's Minister of Equipment and Water, outlined ambitious initiatives aimed at securing the country's drinking water supply. Among these measures is the growing role of coastal cities, such as Safi, which are set to become strategic water suppliers for inland cities like Marrakech.
This statement was made during a conference on water investment, organized as part of the MEDays Forum, a major event for dialogue on global strategic challenges.
According to Nizar Baraka, the forum provided an important platform to share the royal vision for water management, which is centered on three key transformations:
Transition to Integrated Water Resource Management: Moving from a sole focus on dams to a holistic approach that integrates dams, seawater desalination, and wastewater treatment. Reducing Water Demand: Promoting water efficiency through conservation practices and using renewable energy to meet water needs. Protecting Groundwater: Recharging aquifers using small dams and retention basins.
The minister emphasized a new regional solidarity dynamic, shifting from the traditional mountain-to-city model to a coastal-city-to-inland-city model. This shift is made possible through solutions like seawater desalination and "water highways." These initiatives will enable coastal cities to play a pivotal role in supplying drinking water to inland regions, thereby alleviating pressure on local water resources.
MEDays Forum: A Think Tank for Africa and the Global South
The 16th edition of the MEDays Forum serves as a platform for discussing major geostrategic issues, featuring around 50 discussion sessions. This year’s theme, “Sovereignties and Resilience,” focuses on strengthening national and regional capacities across institutional, economic, energy, food, and health sectors.
The forum also explores ways to build a more resilient future in the face of multiple global crises, with particular attention to the challenges and opportunities for Africa and the Global South.
-
17:00
-
16:40
-
16:20
-
16:00
-
15:40
-
15:20
-
15:00
-
14:40
-
14:20
-
14:20
-
14:00
-
13:40
-
13:20
-
13:00
-
12:40
-
12:20
-
12:00
-
11:40
-
11:20
-
11:00
-
10:40
-
10:20
-
10:00
-
09:40
-
09:20
-
09:00
-
08:40
-
08:20
-
07:56
