Morocco Country Profile

Customs Administration

Business Corruption

Observers note that customs clearance is slow and ineffective, while the procedures are cumbersome and impose considerable costs on importers. According to a local company, regardless of what one is importing, one has to give a bribe to the customs officer. Companies explain that they make these illicit payments in order to avoid trouble - either because the administrative procedures are opaque and too cumbersome or because the companies are themselves doing something wrong.

According to Global Integrity 2008, the customs agency is sometimes involved in corruption, and there are reports that some companies and institutions are granted preferential treatment.

Frequency

The World Bank & IFC: Doing Business 2010:
- A standard export shipment of goods requires 7 documents, takes an average of 14 days and costs USD 700 per container.

- A standard import shipment of goods requires 10 documents, takes an average of 17 days and a costs USD 1,000 per container.

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010:
- Business executives give the efficiency of customs procedures (formalities regulating the entry and exit of merchandise) in Morocco a score of 4.1 on a 7-point scale (1 being 'extremely inefficient' and 7 'extremely efficient').

Transparency International: Bribe Payers Index 2008:
- Business executives give the level of corruption in the customs a score of 3.1 on a 5 point scale (1 being 'not at all corrupt' and 5 'extremely corrupt').