This day saw the participation of professionals from the construction sector in all its components, the institutions concerned and the national media. This meeting was “an opportunity to allow construction professionals better visibility on public procurement and to discover closely the projects of the construction sector for the year 2022”, announced Nizar Baraka, specifying that “this is part of as part of the consolidation of transparency, competitiveness and good governance, and also allows companies and players in the sector to better prepare themselves to carry out the planned investment programs under better conditions”.
To this end, Nizar Baraka announced that the ministry and the public establishments under its supervision have carried out their investment programs for the year 2022 in the construction sector, which should overall exceed 47 billion dirhams distributed over the sectors, namely: roads and highways, ports, water sector and public facilities within the framework of the delegated contracting authority.
Moreover, this event is part of the implementation of the commitments of the Program Contract, signed in September 2018 between the Government and Professionals in the construction sector. Contract considered as a lever for development in our country, given the essential role played by companies, design and control offices and laboratories, as well as all stakeholders, in the promotion of national economic development and the creation of opportunities employment.
Construction, a key sector for the economy
Representing 6% of GDP and 11% of overall employment in Morocco, the Building and Public Works sector is an important lever for the development of the national economy allowing the economic and social transformation of the country. Nizar Baraka also stressed that it is a direct actor in the creation of wealth and jobs and an essential link for the implementation of sectoral strategies with strong infrastructure components.
The flagship projects of 2022
On this occasion, Nizar Baraka presented the main flagship projects of the ministry for 2022. We cite, among others, the construction of the Guercif-Nador Highway, 1st section over 32 km, the construction of 246 km of expressway and bypasses , the construction of dams such as Béni Mansour, Ribat Alkhayr… or even more than 1196 projects for the benefit of 50 project owners in the public equipment sector such as the construction project of the CHU Ibn Sina in Rabat which will cost 4MM dhs or the construction project of the international airport of Rabat-Salé with a cost of 10.167 MM dhs.
Accompanying measures
In order to achieve optimal success for these projects, Nizar Baraka announced the implementation of several support measures for construction professionals. First of all, “we must meet deadlines to maintain the confidence of citizens, and this, through the improvement of the regulatory framework governing public procurement”, says Baraka.
Thus, it announces measures such as the revision of prices, the updating of CPC and CPS, the strengthening of arbitration and mediation in the event of disputes, the development of a benchmark of unit prices for services, amendment of the PM decree, in particular the mode of evaluation of low and excessive offers. Moreover, Baraka pointed out the importance of organizing and strengthening the profession. Thus, he announced measures to strengthen the role of the profession, the normative and technical framework of the construction sector and the operationalization of the OBTP, the total dematerialization of the Q&CL and approval procedure, the encouragement of the national product …
A shared responsibility with professionals
Nizar Baraka also stressed that the development of the construction sector is a responsibility shared with professionals. He thus highlighted the importance of improving the aspect of corporate governance, their qualities and standards, their structures… “A construction company must be reliable, aligned with the best standards of quality, costs and deadlines and capable to carry out projects in total respect of this trilogy”, emphasizes Mr. Baraka.
In addition, the construction company is required to develop its capacity for innovation by making training and the quality of management a lever for increasing skills in terms of governance, in order to meet the demand in national and global level and guarantee a strong contribution to the socio-economic development of the country, believes the Minister of Equipment. Ultimately, Nizar Baraka praised the efforts made by the various companies and design offices, while highlighting the role played by the ministry in classifying and supporting these various institutions.
