Morocco and the World Bank (WB) concluded on Thursday in Rabat, a 172 million Euros loan agreement to support the Develoment Plan of the Greater Casablanca (PDGC), set to improve the living conditions in the city, promote economic competitiveness, the business environment and enhance the attractiveness of the city. This agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Boussaid, the head of the World Bank's department for the Maghreb and Malta, Marie Françoise Marie-Nelly and the Mayor of Casablanca, Abdelaziz El Omari. Speaking a few days after its approval by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank to support the PDGC (2015-2020), this sub-national loan aims to strengthen the investment capacity of the city of Casablanca, which is home to 12% of the country's population and generates 20% of the national GDP, by improving the municipal revenue management system and by mobilizing more private capital through public-private partnerships (PPPs). It also aims to improve the urban environment and access to basic services by connecting around 10,000 households in many disadvantaged neighborhoods in Casablanca to electricity, water and sewage systems as well as the rehabilitation of roads, sidewalks, public lighting, green spaces and traffic lights. The loan is also intended to encourage citizen engagement through the establishment of a transparent complaints mechanism and an electronic platform for access to administrative services.
