Impact of industrial free zones on the business environment of emerging countries

Abstract

Free economic zones are one of the many ways for governments to alleviate a national crisis situation, by helping increase trade, enhance production, and create provisions of foreign direct investment. That can help in improving the economic condition of the country and enhance the quality of life of the country’s population. Free economic zones, or free zones, in Morocco have also been established for similar reasons, and due to its perfect geographical location, has become one of the top priority destinations for regions across the globe for logistic purposes. To meet this objective, the reflection carried out at the level of this study turned towards the development of free zones in connection with the business environment in emerging countries, taking into consideration the case of Morocco, then it has a very strong logistical evolution as well as an exceptional geographical position for the improvement of its positioning in international competitiveness. This article presents the results of a quantitative study on the business environment of free zones in Morocco as well as on their economic impact aimed at improving the country's logistics level. This study aims to understand the theoretical and practical purpose of establishment of free zones in Morocco, their significance in the logistics industry, and their key advantages and challenges. This study provides a research background for industry practitioners and academicians of different regions alike to understand the use of Moroccan free zones to effectively strategize logistics decisions from a corporate standpoint, leading to better economic performance.