Date: Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 19:00
Category: Algeria
The two-day government-governors meeting held at the Palace of Nations, Club des Pins, in Algiers, concluded today, producing key recommendations aimed at fostering sustainable local development. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune inaugurated the event, which addressed critical challenges such as food and water security, wealth creation, job opportunities, and the digitalization and modernization of local public services.
The closing session, chaired by Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui in the presence of government officials and advisors to the President, endorsed recommendations from five thematic workshops conducted during the meeting. These focused on creating balanced and sustainable local socio-economic growth while ensuring a high quality of life for citizens.
Key Recommendations from the Workshops
1. Financial Mechanisms for Balanced Development
The first workshop emphasized improving financial and budgetary tools to promote equitable socio-economic development. Key proposals included:
- Strengthening the governor’s role as the financial authority for managing public investment within their jurisdiction.
- Revising methods of allocating municipal subsidies and improving the monitoring of large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Introducing a local taxation law to enhance revenue distribution and transparency.
2. Food and Water Security
The second workshop outlined strategies for addressing food and water security challenges, such as:
- Boosting the national production of essential crops like legumes and adopting drought-resistant seeds.
- Expanding irrigated farmland by mobilizing new water resources and establishing water management bodies.
- Encouraging farmers to form cooperatives and improving agricultural financing, including loans for storage and cooling facilities.
Regarding water security, the workshop proposed:
- Programs for desilting dams and water reservoirs.
- Modernizing water laws to penalize offenses against water infrastructure.
3. Local Economy and Job Creation
To stimulate wealth creation and job opportunities, the third workshop recommended:
- Streamlining processes for stalled investment projects and ensuring alignment with national development plans.
- Promoting mini activity zones for small businesses and artisans in municipalities.
- Accelerating the development of free zones near border areas to enhance trade and economic activity.
4. Digitalization and Public Service Modernization
The fourth workshop highlighted the need to modernize public services through:
- Updating legislation to meet digitalization requirements and enhance data protection.
- Establishing independent oversight committees and mechanisms for citizens to provide feedback on public services.
- Deploying digital platforms for administrative tasks to reduce human intervention and promote transparency.
5. Urban Planning and Sustainable Development
The final workshop addressed urban management by recommending:
- Creating local institutions to manage green spaces and regulate new urban hubs.
- Eliminating precarious housing while ensuring the aesthetic integrity of cities.
- Developing frameworks for the upkeep of housing infrastructure and shared spaces.
A Path Forward
The conference underscored the importance of harmonizing efforts between local and national authorities to achieve strategic goals for Algeria’s sustainable development. The adopted recommendations aim to bridge gaps in infrastructure, governance, and economic activity while ensuring a better quality of life for all Algerians.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
