FIG President Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Magel
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The Mayor of Rabat (1. f. r.) with ONIGT President Aziz Hilali, Ex-Minister Essaîd Ameskane and President Magel. |
Following an invitation of ONIGT already from the last year to attend the founding assembly of the Francophone Group of Surveyors in Rabat in November 2005 (which he could not realize because he was already committed to give a keynote speech to the SEASC 2005 in Brunei Darussalam), FIG President Magel has visited Morocco and the headquarters and regional offices of FIG member association ONIGT in Rabat and Casablanca from 9 to 17 September.
Topic no. 1 was the application of ONIGT in terms of organizing the working week 2011 in Marrakech and the assessment of frame conditions and the cooperation conditions between FIG and ONIGT. Highlight of the meeting with the national council of ONIGT was the signing of the agreement of responsibilities and cooperation conditions between FIG and ONIGT in case of a positive decision of the General Assembly in Munich on 13 October. This agreement had to be signed by all four candidates for WW 2011 and is a clear signal to the voting delegates of General Assembly that the four candidates, Morocco, Italy, Puerto Rico and Nigeria are willing and able to follow the rules of FIG in order to organize excellent and successful events.
During his visit, Prof. Magel had meetings with the Mayor of Marrakech and Senator Omar El Jazouli who confirmed strong support of ONIGT’s candidacy for WW 2001 in his unique city. Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohand Laenser, and the Minister of Habitat and Urban Development, Ahmed Taoufiq Hejira, who already attended the Regional Conference 2003 in Marrakech, expressed their hope and will to support the WW 2011 if the voting at the General Assembly would be positive. President Magel was impressed by this uniform attitude of Moroccan government, state authorities and cities. Even the mayors of Rabat, Dr. Omar El Bahraoui, and Casablanca, Mohamed Sajid, expressed their high appreciation of surveyors contributions to better living conditions in the urban centres and their hope, that a WW 2011 in Marrakech could demonstrate the high standard and socio-political commitment and contributions of Moroccan ingénieurs géomètres topographes and surveyors. Magel thanked ONIGT and its President Aziz Hilali, who is also Vice President of Arab Union of Surveyors (AUS) and Francophone Group of Surveyors for the candidacy which demonstrates that FIG members like ONIGT are very vital and willing to actively shaping the future of FIG. Big thanks go also to the competitors from Italy (CNG), Nigeria (NIS) and Puerto Rico (CIAPR). As only one member can be the winner on 13 October, Magel reminded ONIGT representatives that there will remain new chances in the years after 2011. In any case: A very strong ONIGT delegation can be expected at FIG Congress in Munich.
On invitation of FIG academic member the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Prof. Magel gave a lecture about the “Challenges and chances for the profession of surveyors” on 15 September. Once again Magel expressed the need to better attract and integrate students and young professionals in the activities and delegations of FIG and FIG members. Answering to geodetic students’ questions of this famous university, Magel encouraged ONIGT president and university institutes to give grants to students for attending FIG conferences. With regard to university education, Magel requested very comprehensive curricula covering items and disciplines which exceed traditional surveying disciplines.
Against the background of the challenges in urban and rural areas which Morocco is facing in present and future and which Magel could partly study in discussions with mayors and experts during his four-day technical tour through the country, surveyors’ education should focus on urban and rural planning, development and land administration and management based on a sound education in the GIS field and on soft skills like rhetoric and presentation skills, ability to conflict resolution and to communicate with politicians, decision makers and citizens!
Surveyors should never end – according to FIG President Magel – to convince and to push politics and society to bridge the gap between the rural and urban world like it is formulated in the FIG Marrakech Declaration on urban-rural interrelationship for sustainable development (see FIG publication Nr. 33 in English and Arabic).
 President Magel gets an astrolab as a gift from Said El Azrak, Président du ONIGT Conseil Régional du Nord-Ouest. |
 Visit with the Mayor of Marrakech, Sénateur Omar El Jazouli, with Ansi Magel and Congress Director of Regional Conference Marrakech 2003, Ahmed Boukri. |
 President Magel presents the FIG globe to ONIGT President. |
 Visit with the Mayor of Casablanca. |
 Signing of the agreement in front of media. |
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 Dinner after press conference in a famous restaurant in Medina of Rabat. |
 Meeting with the Minister of Habitat and Urbanism. |
 Meeting with the Minister of Tourism Adil Douiri. |
 The two presidents in front of the headquarters of ONIGT in Rabat. |
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