Customs modernisation, trade facilitation and economic competitiveness in Morocco: Analysis of the relationship between customs reforms, trade performance and attractiveness

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between customs modernisation, procedural simplification, trade facilitation, digitalisation and several dimensions of economic performance in Morocco. It is set against the backdrop of the reforms to the BADR and PortNet systems and draws on transaction cost and institutional theories to explain how administrative and digital changes can support foreign trade. The quantitative analysis is based on a sample of 101 respondents and utilises structural equation modelling in AMOS. The reported KMO indices are 0.906 for modernisation, 0.905 for digitalisation and 0.935 for overall performance. The estimates indicate positive and significant associations between customs modernisation and trade performance (0.174; p = 0.009), procedural simplification and trade performance (0.315; p < 0.001), and trade facilitation and trade performance (0.357; p < 0.001). Digitalisation is positively associated with economic competitiveness (0.576; p < 0.001). The single window is associated with international image (0.322), as are advanced technologies (0.552; p < 0.001). These results support the role of customs reforms in trade performance and certain dimensions of competitiveness. However, the available information does not allow for a detailed description of the sample characteristics or all the model’s goodness-of-fit indices.

Keywords: customs modernisation; trade facilitation; digitalisation; BADR; PortNet; economic competitiveness; Morocco.

Received Date: August 17, 2026

Accepted Date: September 09, 2026

Published Date: October 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/1066