The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) calls for the adoption of a national strategy aimed at the protection, safeguarding and enhancement of cultural heritage, its president Ahmed Reda Chami said on Friday in Rabat.
Based on a diagnosis shared by the main stakeholders, “the ESEC recommends the adoption of a national strategy for the protection, safeguarding and enhancement of cultural heritage, based on the effectiveness of rights, respect for cultural diversity and the involvement of local democracy mechanisms in its governance”, said Ahmed Reda Chami during a meeting devoted to the restitution of the opinion of the Council, entitled “for a new vision of management and enhancement of the Cultural Heritage “.
Ahmed Reda Chami specified that despite the commendable efforts undertaken and the increased awareness of institutions and society of the importance of cultural heritage, the various actors interviewed by the EESC agreed that cultural heritage needed a strong impetus to transform itself validly into material wealth with a strong socio-economic impact, the goal being to make it a real lever for development.
Thus, he insisted, culture cannot constitute a lever for sustainable and spatial development, and a mechanism for the economic and social integration of populations, without seizing the opportunities offered by investment in the promotion and protection of cultural heritage. To this end, three essential dimensions concerning cultural heritage have been highlighted by the EESC, he added.
This is particularly the identity dimension which reflects the traits of the Moroccan personality, the dimension linked to development since it contributes to the strengthening of Morocco’s attractiveness on an international and regional scale, in addition to the creative dimension, in the in the sense that cultural heritage is not a simple legacy bequeathed from the past, but rather a living, dynamic and resilient capital in the face of identity, cultural and economic challenges.
Ahmed Reda Chami also highlighted the importance of the development of cultural industries that promote innovation and creativity in the various artistic fields, particularly those with a heritage content, adding that all the initiatives and actions carried out today “are all elements that enrich the cultural heritage that we will bequeath to future generations”.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the Council presented the main recommendations contained in the opinion and which advocate, in particular, consolidating and energizing the institutions and operational tools at the service of cultural heritage, paying particular attention to intangible heritage, guarantee long-term national funding and diversify funding sources, implement the proposed national strategy for the safeguarding of cultural heritage on a territorial basis, systematize the use of technologies during mapping and entrust a public figure with carrying out effective advocacy to raise awareness on the challenges of promoting history and the national cultural heritage.
Held at the archaeological site of Chellah, the meeting took place in the presence of the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the President of the National Museums Foundation (FNM), Mehdi Qotbi, ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Morocco, alongside representatives of international organizations.
Also present were representatives of ministerial departments and public establishments, national institutions and civil society, representatives of federations and professional associations, in addition to an audience of cultural heritage experts.
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