Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
104
The NCFTP is also tasked with simplifying and rationalizing customs, port, and banking procedures
relating to import and export operations.
The NCFTP receives funding from the Foreign Trade Ministry. There are enough financial resources
and no need to request another budget at this time. 150
4.3.3.3. Analysis
At first, the commission’s activities entailed an inventory of existing documents and procedures, with
an expert providing technical assistance. Experts from SIMPO (France) and SITPRO (UK) participated
in the effort at simplification. 151
In 2006, the committee elaborated the National Plan for Procedures Facilitation, pointing out
fourteen priority projects for the implementation of trade facilitation. 152
One of the main obstacles facing the Moroccan NTFB is its slow response to the changing
environment as highlighted in this Study.153, 154, 155 There are different levels of commitment from the
members according to the subject of the meeting, which sometime causes decision-making problems.
The main achievements of Morocco’s NTFB have been the commitment of all its members to
supporting the implementation of the trade facilitation process; communication before and after
every meeting, with an invitation sent to all stakeholders containing the meeting’s agenda, followed
by a report of decisions made and next step trong leadership from the Foreign Trade Ministry
and the CNEA; a mechanism for final decision-making when no collective compromise can be reached
among stakeholders;156, 157 and qualitative participation, with people attending meetings on an ad
hoc basis, according to each meeting’s agenda and purpose.158 159
The Government of Morocco stressed the importance of trade facilitation programs that reflect the
its commitment to further deepening economic and sector-based reforms, while placing greater
emphasis on strengthening the competitiveness of the Moroccan economy as a whole.
4.3.3.4. Conclusions and Recommendations
Morocco performs better than the average of MENA countries in the areas of information availability,
involvement of the trade community, appeal procedures, fees and charges, automation, and
governance and impartiality, according to OECD trade facilitation indicators. Morocco’s weakest
performance is in the area of internal border agency cooperation. 160
Transparency: Once a ministry has drafted a new law or regulation, it has to be sent to the general
secretariat which is in charge of publishing it in the Official Gazette. A waiting period of one or two
150 Said Maghraoui Hassany, op. cit.
151 Ibid
152 Mrs. Zdaic, Chief of the Information System Department, Custom and Indirect Taxes Agency
153 Said Maghraoui Hassany, op. cit.
154 Thami Maaroufi, op. cit.
155 Mrs. Zdaic, cit. op
156 Thami Maaroufi, op. cit.
157 Mrs. Zdaic, op. cit.
158 Thami Maaroufi, op. cit.
159 Mrs. Zdaic, op. cit.
160 OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators – Morocco