Urban logistics in Morocco between levers and barriers

Abstract

The objective of our paper is to identify the levers and obstacles to the development of urban logistics in Morrocan kingdom. This theme is very little studied in the case of African countries, notably, Morocco. To answer our questions, our reflection will focus on freight transport research, urban logistics and its determinants – stakeholders, infrastructures, concertation and technology. A very particular interest will be taken in the Moroccan case based on the studies and reports of the authorities concerned (the Moroccan Logistics Development Agency [MLDA], the Moroccan Observatory of Logistics Compettivness [MOLC], the Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics [METL]).

Thanks to a qualitative approach based on thirty semi-structured interviews, we were able to identify three main element favoring the development of urban logistics in Morocco. These re : the professionalization of the logistics function, the movement of seniors within companies specializing in urban freight distribution and finally the governance undertaken by the kingdom in this context. On the other hand, three other factors hindering the development of the concept studied were raised : regulatory failure of freight transport, the scarcity and high cost of logitics land and the lack of logistics culture among operators.

Keywords: urban logistics, infrastructures, governance, concertation

JEL Classification : O18, O21, P41, R42

Paper type: Empirical research