Moroccan exporters complain from heavy transportation costs
Morocco, Economics, 2/19/2004

Transportation costs reach up to 20% of exports expenses, complained in Casablanca Tuesday president of the Moroccan exporters association (ASMEX), Abdellatif Belmadani, citing other obstacles to exports such as complex procedures, irregular links, the non-respect of deadlines and the weak capacity, mainly in air transport.

Speaking at a symposium on relations between transport and exports, Belmadani deplored that Moroccan exports are losing important assets at the level of competitiveness, calling for action on major axes, namely costs, sector regulation, deadlines and providing good quality logistics.

In a speech read out at the opening of the encounter, equipment and transport minister, Abdelkrim Ghellab, said the government grants paramount importance to the development of transport so it accompanies the kingdom's openness and the changes of world economy.

The projected reforms concern legal, institutional and infrastructure aspects of the sector to encourage private initiatives and attract national and foreign investments in the sector, he said.

According to the Moroccan confederation of road transport (CNTR), transport represents 6% of the GDP and 9% of tertiary sectors. It absorbs 25% of national energy consumption and employs 6% of active population. Transport taxes make 15% of the state budget.

According to the confederation, over 95% of foreign trade is done by sea. Goods that are transited by Moroccan ports in 2003 reached some 57 million tons while 17.5 tons were shipped across roads.

Air transport currently represents 0.11% of quantity and 5% of the value of the kingdom's trade according to the national airliner RAM.

In his speech, Ghellab said maritime transport has been liberalized almost totally, deploring, however, that the Moroccan fleet's participation in sea traffic to and from Morocco does not exceed 12%.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco announces 12% drop in external debt, 5.5% increase in growth rate   (2/18/2004)
  Morocco UAE sign several cooperation agreements   (2/17/2004)
  Morocco to set up 'Energy Shops' to help rural entrepreneurs   (2/16/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search