3- Répartition déséquilibrée des activités productives

3-1- Agriculture : disparités flagrantes

The agriculture sector in the Oriental region is marked by significant disparities between the north
and the south. This imbalance in agriculture persists due to a combination of factors including
climate, agricultural land value, and the means of production utilized.

In the northern part of the region, diverse crops thrive due to a more favorable climate and
modern hydro-agricultural infrastructure. Besides cereal cultivation, significant areas are dedicated
to industrial crops, vegetables, and fruit plantations. Production is notably high, particularly in the
plains along both banks of the Moulouya River.

- Intensive livestock farming of cattle and sheep also plays a vital role for farmers in this area.

During the 2009-2010 agricultural season, the irrigated area in this zone reached 86,025 hectares,
accounting for 80% of the regional total. In the same season, the cultivable land area in this zone
reached 415,727 hectares (56% of the regional total), with 70% actively cultivated while the
remaining land was fallowed.

In the southern part of the region, extensive sheep and goat farming is the primary agricultural
activity. Alongside pastoral activities, residents in this area also engage, due to a limited extent, in
crop cultivation, particularly cereals, within small irrigated areas or in pockets.

The pastoral domain (the high plateaus of Eastern Morocco) covers nearly 9/10 of the Oriental
region's space.

The population involved in livestock farming represents a significant proportion of the rural
population in the Oriental region, although the number of herders has significantly declined over the
past three decades due to various factors prompting nomadic populations to settle down:

- Insufficient administrative oversight and equipment in the livestock sector,

- Delimitation of pastoral domains and reduction in pastoral movements,

- Control over herd and herder movements, and a tightening of communal boundaries.

In addition to these issues, there are challenges related to drought and desertification, which have
devastated grazing lands and diminished the pastoral economy of the region. Dairy and beef farming
only persist in areas with irrigated agriculture. Consequently, the pastoral population of the high
plateaus continues to endure impoverishment.

In the southern zone of the region, the cultivable land area reached 332,285 hectares during the
2009-2010 campaign. Half of these lands lie fallow, totaling nearly 174,000 hectares. The irrigated
area covers 21,423 hectares, representing only 20% of the total irrigated area in the region.

3-2- Industrie : le nord détient le monopole

The geographical distribution of industrial establishments shows a significant concentration in favor
of the northern zone of the region, hosting nearly 92% of the regional total. This zone contributes to
approximately 87% of the total turnover, 88% of production, and 97% of investments.

Similarly, concerning employment, industrial establishments located in the northern zone of the
region provide permanent employment to around 7,513 individuals, representing approximately 88%
of the total workforce in the manufacturing industry at the regional level.

It's worth noting that the industrial landscape of this zone is diversified, encompassing various
sectors, including agro-food, chemicals, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, electrical and
electronics, as well as textile and leather industries.

In contrast to the northern zone, the southern region suffers from a notable scarcity of industrial
units. As of the year 2009, there are only 29 industrial establishments in this area, contributing no
more than 12% to regional industrial production. The lack of communication infrastructure such as
roads and railways partially reflects the weakness of the industrial sector in this zone.

3-3- Les mines : un domaine en voie d’extinction dans la zone sud

The southern part of the region is known for its numerous mining deposits located in the
mountainous fringe of the northern Horst (such as Touissite, Sidi Boubker, Jerada...) and in the
mountain ridges of the eastern High Atlas to the south (like Bouarfa...). These areas were once
dynamic and significant sources of employment. However, they no longer hold this status today,
especially in Bouarfa. They gradually ceased production since the 1960s, with the Jerada coal mines
finally shutting down in early 2002.

The repercussions of the mining crisis are severe on both social and economic fronts. Unemployment
has significantly affected the families of miners, with a large portion having to migrate elsewhere.
Consequently, the mining areas are experiencing depopulation.

3-4- Le tourisme : des capacités et des perspectives à l’unilatérale

In the tourism sector, it's noteworthy to observe a highly imbalanced distribution of accommodation
infrastructure between the two parts of the region. Almost all tourist establishments are located in
the northern zone, boasting a capacity of 5,161 beds, which accounts for 96% of the regional total.

These establishments recorded 319,660 tourist overnight stays in 2009, compared to merely 684 in
the southern zone of the region, constituting 99.8% and 0.2% of the regional total, respectively.
This imbalance between the two zones will further exacerbate with the completion of the
Méditerrania Saïdia project. Spanning across 713 hectares, this project plans to accommodate 30,000
beds, including 3,000 luxury residences, a marina, three golf courses, a convention center, and
commercial esplanades. It will soon expand the opportunities in the northern part of the region
significantly.

4- Activités commerciales et services

The commerce and services sector plays a pivotal role in the region's economy, providing
employment for nearly 50% of the active workforce (Employment Survey 2010). The northern zone
stands out for its significant commercial infrastructure. Oujda-Angad prefecture, along with Nador
and Berkane provinces, has emerged as increasingly important commercial hubs.

Despite the detrimental impact of illegal trade, particularly prevalent in the northern part, it
generates an average turnover of 6 billion Moroccan Dirhams annually (according to the Oujda
Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services).

Moreover, this zone serves as a significant source of emigrants to foreign countries, and their
remittances are vital resources for the region's economy. Over the years, this dynamism has granted
the northern zone, particularly Oujda and Nador, a special status in commerce and services:

- Oujda-Angad prefecture, the regional capital, serves as a multifunctional metropolis: hosting

regional institutions, universities, banks, insurance companies, major commercial and service
centers, and being a cultural hub.

- The Nador conurbation stands as the most dynamic urban area in the region and ranks second in
terms of financial deposits after Casablanca.

Additionally, in terms of banking presence, the Oriental region ranks third after Greater Casablanca
and the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region. In 2009, it boasted 313 banking establishments, with 289
located in the northern zone, constituting 92% of the total banking institutions in the region.

5- Répartition disproportionnée des équipements et services collectifs

 The concentration of public facilities is closely tied to economic activity and population, particularly
in transportation, healthcare, and education. Analysis by zone reveals significant disparities in this
regard.

5-1- L’inégale répartition des infrastructures de transport

Transport infrastructure plays a crucial role in facilitating the movement of people and fostering
exchange activities, both within different parts of the region and between the region and other areas
of the Kingdom. These infrastructures also contribute to localization and have integration power due
to their structuring effects on space (supply, markets, marketing circuits, and transport flows).

Regarding road infrastructure, the northern zone boasts a network spanning 1,587 kilometers of
paved roads, compared to 1,972 kilometers in the southern zone. However, road density, though
correlated with area size, is significantly higher in the northern region (161 meters per square
kilometer) than in the south (27 meters per square kilometer).

As a result, the northern zone is well-served and represents the most accessible part of the region. It
experiences a concentration of traffic, communication, and internal and external exchanges with the
rest of the Kingdom. Goods and passenger flows reflect this focus, with the majority of the
automobile fleet (98%) concentrated there and internal traffic reaching its peak intensity.

The northern zone also boasts an airport network comprising:

- Oujda-Angad International Airport, serving over 170,000 passengers annually and ranked 5th
nationally. The construction of the new terminal at Oujda-Angad Airport, as part of the airport's
expansion project, aims to anticipate tourism development prospects and support economic and
tourism development projects in the Oriental region, particularly the seaside resort of Saïdia, located
a few kilometers from the airport.

- Nador Al Arouit International Airport, inaugurated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2003. It
features a passenger terminal with a capacity of 750,000 passengers. It serves as an international
platform providing the necessary conditions for commercial traffic development, enhancing trade
flows to contribute to the socio-economic development of the region and neighboring provinces.
In terms of port infrastructure, the northern zone of the region includes:

- Port of Nador (Béni Ansar): Designed for commerce, fishing, and passenger transit, it strategically
sits on the Mediterranean coast near Spain and 70 km from the Algerian border. This port serves as
the main maritime gateway for the Oriental region and neighboring areas to the west, center, and
south. It boasts significant infrastructure and sufficient equipment to meet the demands of importers
and exporters effectively.

- Ras Al Ma Fishing Port (Cap de l'Eau): Primarily dedicated to maritime fishing activities.

- Saïdia Marina: A new milestone for the socio-economic and tourism development of the Oriental
region. Located 8 km from the town of Saïdia and 5 km from the Moulouya River, it covers an area of
5 hectares.

6- Niveau de vie et pauvreté

The examination of the table above reveals a severe poverty phenomenon affecting the population
of the southern zone of the Oriental region. Indeed, the poverty rate in this zone (17.1%) is more
than twice as high as that of the northern zone (8.0%).

However, it is worth noting that this overall poverty rate in the southern zone hides stark spatial
disparities. The poverty rate is significantly higher than the regional average (10.1%) in all three
provinces of this zone. Leading the list is the province of Jerada with a poverty rate of 22.8%.
Conversely, the provinces in the northern zone, except for Driouch, have poverty rates lower than
the regional average and even the national average (9.5%). The gap between the poorest province
(Jerada) and the least poor province (Oujda-Angad) in the region is 17.4 points.

At the municipal level, the situation is even more lamentable. The 26 poorest municipalities in the
region, with poverty rates exceeding twice the regional average, are located in the southern zone of
the region. In contrast, the 32 least poor municipalities in the region, with poverty rates lower than
the regional average (10.1%) and even the national average (9.5%), are found in the northern zone of
the region (except for three municipalities belonging to the southern zone: Figuig, Bouarfa, and
Debdou).

Regarding the vulnerability of the population, the same observation is made. The population living in
the southern zone of the region is evidently much more threatened by poverty than those located in
the northern zone. Indeed, one in five people is at a significant risk of becoming poor in the southern
zone of the region, accounting for a rate of 20.3%, compared to only 13.5% in the northern zone.