Essaouira’s Development Lags Despite Potential, Advisor Warns of Isolation Challenges

Speaking on Tuesday during a Fireside Chat moderated by Mustapha Mellouk on the occasion of the "Essaouira Investors Day" event, Azoulay deplored the lack of interest shown by the authorities in the city of Essaouira, reports Médias24. "Essaouira is isolated, Essaouira is experiencing an exceptional dynamic, but isolation is a challenge, it is a handicap," he said. The advisor, who spoke as a citizen, addressed the Minister of Equipment and Water in these terms: "There is one thing I don’t understand, the first highway that could have gone from Marrakech to Essaouira stops at Chichaoua, why? The people of Essaouira deserve an explanation..."

He continued: "The second highway, from Casablanca to El Jadida, and from El Jadida to Safi, stops 100 km from Essaouira at the end of the construction site, why? [...] It’s true that there is the expressway, but there should have been overpasses to cross two villages. Without these overpasses, all the comparative advantage of having an expressway is lost." Regarding the port of Essaouira, Azoulay explains: "This project was 6 or 7 years late. The decision was made at the time to take 2 or 2.5 hectares from the bay of Essaouira. I was a little reluctant, but the National Ports Agency had reassured me that this would not have any consequences on the bay. The result is exactly the opposite, Essaouira is invaded by sand... It’s a drama and I don’t know if we can fix it... It’s a real threat."

Azoulay also questioned the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, present at this fireside chat, about the high-speed line (LGV) connecting Marrakech to Agadir. "I attended the initial discussions... And it’s obvious that we’re going to stop in Essaouira. It was in the initial plan, and then the work started and then I see that what had been planned at the time has disappeared... We have the right, at least, to information that guides, justifies and explains decisions like these," affirmed the godfather of Essaouira, who also raised the problem of the small size of the city’s airport terminal. "As soon as there are two or three flights arriving at the same time, the passengers are sitting on the ground, and others are queuing in the sun."

In response to Azoulay’s remarks, Nizar Baraka said that his department is working on a "deep conviction", that of "truly unblocking Essaouira." "Several options are available to us, and that is why we need a serene debate to identify the best options," he added. Mohamed Abdeljalil, for his part, provided some answers on the Marrakech-Agadir LGV. "The two cities each have 1 million inhabitants. Essaouira, on the other hand, has 100,000 inhabitants. So, when we look at the connection, we go from 250 km to 360 km if we connect Marrakech to Agadir via Essaouira. That adds 100 km." And he added: "Regarding the comfort of the airport, it is a problem that is found in many airports. In general, the criticisms made of airports are, in my opinion, a bit exaggerated."