Be More Offensive !

Regional and Local Authorities (RLAs) are by virtue of the 2019 law on General Code on Decentralization, autonomous in mana­ ging local affairs including resources and development projects. In fact, the RLAs have administrative and financial autonomy to manage local affairs as some 63 compe­ tences have been transferred to them by 20 ministries. Though challenges continue to persist especially in terms of financial and technical capacities of the RLAs, giving vi­ sibility to their respective regions and coun­ cils remains largely their prerogative. The Regional and Local Authorities are empo­ wered by the law to market their potentials and attract investors. It is true that a few Regional and Local Au­ thorities have organized events aimed at marketing their potentials but a vast majo­ rity are not even aware of what they have, talk less of selling the municipalities and re­ gions to the world. Allowing the RLAs the free hand to strike deals with institutions, partners both within and out of the country, is an incredible opportunity for them to ex­ pand their horizon even beyond the natio­ nal borders. This is an opportunity to drive sustainable development and improve well­ being in their communities. It is therefore the responsibility of the decentralized ter­ ritorial entities to make hey while the sun shines, to be more aggressive in marketing their potentials to investors. The Regional and Local Authorities should thus take the bull by the horns by being positively offen­ sive in marketing their investment poten­ tials not only to internal investors but also to foreign based investors. To be more offensive in marketing their po­ tentials, Regional and Local Authorities must do a territorial diagnostic to begin with. This entails a territorial economic pro­ file which packages th...