The Logistics Sector on the Southern Shores of the Western ... - cetmo

October 2010Favourable FactorsReinforce open economic policy andexpand liberalization.Capitalize on progress in Mediterraneancooperation, the increasingly importantrole played by the Mediterranean basin inglobal logistics and the potential of Africanlogistics.Emphasize the importance of logistics ineconomic development.Capitalize on the vitality of the privatesector.Strengthen processes for outsourcinglogistics.Foster cooperation between statetransport operators and private operators.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Logistics</strong> <strong>Sector</strong>on the Southern Shores of the Western MediterraneanThreatsDelays in the integration of the Maghreb.Lack of pressure to improve countries'internal logistics. Danger of putting hopeson internal development alone.Uneven treatment of logistics sectorproblems across governmentdepartments.Weak private-sector involvement inimproving planning and carrying out plansfor modernizing the logistics sector.Lack of organization of logistics-sectorcompanies into professional associationsand lack of cooperation between privateoperators.Few plans for modernizing and delays intheir implementation.<strong>The</strong> overview of the conclusions makes it possible to single out the following factors:Modernization. <strong>The</strong> modernization of the logistics sector environment (regulations, taxation,hubs, etc.) currently under way is necessary but not sufficient, given that:• <strong>The</strong> key factors for successful modernization are the internal modernization ofcompanies, the structure of the sector and the supervision and follow-up of this structure.• Market pressures are not sufficient to modernize the logistics sector: governmentdepartments need to get the process started.• Relations between government departments and operators need strengthening, as dothose between the different operators themselves.Training. Training in transport and logistics is an absolute priority in the Maghreb as a wholeand provides an opportunity for a programme common to the whole of the AMU region of theGTMO 5+5, which should lead to more in-depth knowledge of the region and an alignment ofviewpoints between the two shores of the Mediterranean.• <strong>The</strong> people interviewed said that vocational training should be offered to the privatesector but also to government departments; it should include management as well astechnical factors and be essentially practical (not only academic); it should be based onexamples more or less directly related to the level of AMU countries. In this respect,Southern European countries may provide a reference.Liberalization. <strong>The</strong> liberalization of the logistics sector should be continued, but it should beaccompanied by strategies for modernizing national companies.• Liberalization which has no strategies and is hampered by administrative obstacles willlead to a predominance of foreign operators in the logistics sector (vicious circle).166 CETMO