February 20181

EditorialPORTNET S.A. has made the satisfaction of users of the national Single Window for foreign trade procedures an absolute priority. As we are committed to a process of continuous improvement in the quality of our services, we have just launched a satisfaction survey on the import arrival notification system, operational since early July 2017. The objective behind this consultation is to gather user feedback and identify areas for improvement to offer a fluid and innovative «user experience» (see Highlight).

PORTNET S.A. is committed to constantly improving what already exists, while continuing to invest in new innovative solutions. The first quarter of 2018 will thus be marked by the gradual deployment of dematerialization via PortNet of the appointment setting procedure prior to the recovery of imported containers. This new service is a continuation of the efforts undertaken to strengthen the integration of the port logistics chain. This month’s newsletter invites you to discover the modus operandi and measure the beneficial effects of this solution on importers, freight forwarders, transport companies and handling operators (see Topic of the month).

Have a good read! Jalal BENHAYOUN

CommunicationOMCL launches its newsletter The Transport and Logistics sector has just been enriched with a new newsletter launched at the initiative of the Moroccan Observatory of Logistics Competitiveness (OMCL). «The Newsletter aims to become a monthly magazine specialized in the various logistics activities. Its objective is to feed the common interest of our community with information about our sector through the main information that has marked the month,» reads the editorial in the inaugural issue of the newsletter, signed by OMCL President, Rachid Tahri. The OMCL newsletter returns in this January issue to the highlights of the third edition of «Tangier Logistics Days», organized under the theme: «The supply chain in the digital age».

NewsletterEdition N°28 - February 2018

la sortie de vos

conteneurs du Port !

News 28

February 20182

C’est la part des échanges commerciaux internationaux du Maroc empruntant la voie maritime, d’où l’enjeu que revêt le secteur portuaire et maritime pour le commerce extérieur et le label de l’économie marocaine. Ce chiffre a été rapporté par Abdelkader Amara, ministre de l’Equipement, du Transport, de la Logistique et de l’Eau, dans une allocution lue en son nom, par Lahcen Ait Brahim, directeur des ports et du domaine public maritime, à l’ouverture d’un séminaire sur la sécurité de la navigation en Afrique, mardi 6 février à Marrakech.

Figure of the month

95

Towards an efficient and coherent pricing policy Within the framework of its development plan and in order to continuously improve the value offer in response to the needs and expectations of its customers and partners, PORTNET S.A. is conducting, with an inclusive approach, a study on the pricing policy for PortNet services to establish its strengths and identify possible areas for improvement, taking into account our sectorial, national and international environment.The purpose of the pricing study is to implement a new pricing policy at the level of PORTNET S.A. This should respond to the questions and issues raised (relevance, efficiency, consistency, competitiveness), guarantee the company’s sustainability and be part of a global and coherent approach.This mission will be carried out in four phases according to a predefined schedule: scoping of the study, diagnosis and benchmark, development of the pricing model and support for the implementation of the pricing model adopted. Today the project, conducted in an inclusive way, is in its first phase which consists of a critical analysis of the current pricing through and national and international benchmark.

Soon the electronic management, via PortNet, of requests for approvals and import authorizations for telecommunications equipment As part of the guidelines aimed at improving the business climate and strengthening national logistics competitiveness by reducing costs and delays in carrying out foreign trade operations and extending the services offered by the PortNet Single Window, a project to connect ANRT to the PortNet platform will be launched in the coming weeks. The implementation of this new service is part of the deployment of the partnership agreement, signed at the Annual Conference of the PortNet Single Window organized on December 12.

The objective of the ANRT’s project to connect to the PortNet platform aims at dematerializing control procedures for telecom products, making customs clearance formalities more flexible by implementing a centralized reference system via PORTNET for equipment approved or exempt from approval by the ANRT, and improving the conditions for customs clearance of products subject to regulatory control.

News 28

February 20183

Arrival noticePortNet Launches User Consultation Operational since 3 July 2017, the notification service of the arrival notice at the port of goods for import will continue to evolve to meet the new needs of economic operators. It is for this reason that PORTNET S.A. has decided to launch a major survey among the operators concerned (importers from all sectors of activity, freight forwarders, etc.), thus confirming its desire to be part of a continuous improvement process with a view to ensuring quality service. PortNet platform users are therefore invited to answer a questionnaire to measure the performance of this new service, in particular the quality of the information contained in the said notification. It is also an opportunity to clarify some practical modalities. «The identification of the consignee of the goods is made from the field entered on the bill of lading. To ensure accurate identification and notification of the consignee’s arrival of the goods, the supplier should be made aware that only the company name (as written on PortNet) should be entered on the bill of lading,» emphasizes a message accompanying the questionnaire.

As a result of a close collaboration with all port community actors, the electronic notification service for the actual arrival of imported goods at the ports of the National Ports Agency (NPA) has enriched the intelligent alert system made available to economic operators. Notifications transmitted via PortNet accurately indicate the identification parameters of goods and containers, arrival date, loading location, etc. This instant alert service makes it possible to better anticipate customs clearance and goods collection procedures, which results in a significant reduction in costs and time spent in port.

The satisfaction survey makes it possible to better identify the wishes and needs of users in order to improve the quality of this service offered by PortNet.

Highlight 28

February 20184

Business Climate A legal arsenal for online business creation The draft law on business creation by electronic means and its accompaniment was adopted by the Government Council on Thursday 15 February 2018. The objective of this new system, says the government spokesman Mustapha El Khalfi, is to «promote domestic and foreign investment, create jobs, improve the business climate and improve Morocco’s ranking in the reports of international bodies, including the index of business creation adopted by the World Bank (Doing Business), through the revision of a series of legislative provisions governing this sector, particularly Book I of the Commercial Code and the law establishing the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office. According to the roadmap accompanying this bill, an electronic platform for online business creation will now be set up. One the one hand, it acts as a Single Window for the submission of creation files and, on the other hand, it plays a role of orchestration of these files among the stakeholders of the process. The formalities must be carried out not exclusively at the regional investment centres, but at the OMPIC (Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office) as well, with a file containing the necessary documents, including certificates relating to the protection of the denomination and those relating to the blocking of the company’s capital.

News 28

February 20185

LogisticsJapanese companies invited to invest in Morocco The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with the Moroccan Association of Exporters (ASMEX), organized a conference on Thursday 15 February in Rabat under the theme: «Morocco: a logistics hub for Africa». The event was an opportunity to discuss Japan’s trade and investment development prospects in Morocco. JETRO works continuously to facilitate Japanese companies’ access to local opportunities and partners by providing them with the information necessary for the success of their projects in Morocco,» said Hiroyuki Ishige, President of JETRO. In addition to the presentations given by JICA, AMDL (the Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development) and ASMEX, the leaders of the two Japanese companies Yamaha and Decathlon International were invited to share their experiences and ambitions for the Moroccan market. The Moroccan-Japanese meeting also included a presentation on the program initiated by JICA, called “African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative)”. This program, which is intended for African students, allows them to continue their studies in Japanese schools and universities with the help of a university scholarship in order to obtain an international Master’s degree. Moreover, six Moroccan students who benefited from the support of ABE initiative were present at the Rabat conference.

MLA 2018Applications open until 5 AprilThe countdown is on for the third edition of the Moroccan Logistics Awards (MLA 2018). As a reminder, the Moroccan Logistics Awards competition is organized by the Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development (AMDL) in partnership with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and in collaboration with professionals in the sector. While promoting good logistics practices, creativity, innovation and sustainability, the MLA concept consists in rewarding each year the members of the logistics community who have led projects characterized by a concrete contribution to the development of logistics in Morocco. For its third edition, the MLA competition is divided into three categories: the Logistics Project of the Year, the “Green Logistics” Project and the Professional of the Year. Candidates have until April 5 to apply for the 2018 edition. The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held on May 10 in Marrakech on the margins of the 24th edition of the International Logistics Congress «Eurolog 2018».

Figure of the month

6

28

February 2018

Container recovery How does making an appointment via PortNet work? The dematerialization via PortNet of the recovery process of imported goods requires support for the procedure of making appointments between the declarant on the one hand and the handling operator on the other. The digitalization of this procedure will have positive and beneficial impacts for all the actors concerned. It allows the freight forwarder to control the timing of the goods’ departure, while optimizing the movement of the transport equipment. For his part, the handling operator has everything to gain from this service, particularly in terms of queue management. The process is operated by a proposal for an appointment from the declarant after receipt of the removal note and ends immediately after the recovery of the goods and their exit from the port.

Making an appointment for the recovery of goodsDeclarant PortNet Handling Operator

Receipt of BAE

receipt and transfer of the handler’s answer

Accept/reschedule the

appointment 2h

Transmission of Appointment application

receipt of the handler’s response

receipt and transfer of the handler’s answer

Take an appointment

terminal/port output flow reception

2h

Figure of the month

7

28

February 2018

Description of appointment taking procedure Task Input Description Supports Output

Reception of BAE Customs cleared goods

The declarant- the declarant receives the voucher to remove after good customs clearance

Physical document Release received

The procedure manual drawn up by the PORTNET S.A. teams has drawn up a list of six rules to be followed to ensure better management of this service.

The declarant goes to the appointment request only after the reception of the voucher to be removed.

The declarant must provide all the required information: DUM number, container numbers, mode of transport, transport identification, driver identification, appointment date.

In order to optimise the scheduling of appointments on the PortNet platform, handling operators are required to communicate once a week statistics on the number of containers delivered per hour and per time slot.

The handling operator is called upon to rule on the proposed appointment and to communicate his decision within two hours. Once this deadline is exceeded, the appointment becomes effective.

Containers that may exceed 7 days will be scheduled first.

Any appointment request postponed by the handling operator and resulting in additional costs must not penalize the declarant.

The dematerialisation of the appointment scheduling procedure makes it possible to process container collection formalities quickly in order to ensure better management of carriers’ physical arrival flows and decongestion at port level.

Figure of the month

8

28

February 2018

Task Input Description Supports Output

To take an appointment

Reception of the BAE

The declarant - the declarant proposes a date with the handling operator to recover the goods. The proposal is made on the single window indicating: - the transport mode (standard, identification transport and driver) - the date of the appointment - the number of the DUM - the number of the container

-Single Counter

- Message EDIFACT COPINO

Proposal for an appointment

Accepter / Reschedule the

appointment

Reception of the proposal for a

date

The handling operator - the handling operator communicates his decision (acceptation/reschedule appointment). - the operator specifies the date of appointment, time period, Number and an estimate of the appointment hour for goods recovery

- Single Counter

- Message EDIFACT APERAK

Decision of the handling operator

Reception & Transfer of the

handler’s answer

Return of the handling

operator

PortNetPortNet receives and transfers the answer from the handling operator to the declarant.

Single Window Decision of the

handling operator transferred

Reception of the handler’s answer

Return of the handling

operator

PortNetPortNet receives and transfers the answer from the handling operator to the declarant.

Single Window Decision of the

handling operator received

Mobilization of the conveyor

Confirmation of the

Appointment

The declarant The declarant mandates the carrier to recover his goods (except PortNet).

(except Portnet) Carrier moved to port

Reception of the Terminal / Port

output flow Export of the

good

PortNetPortNet receives output steam of the Terminal of the handling operator and output flow of the customs Port.

Message EDIFACT CODECO

Received output flow

Figure of the month

9

28

February 2018

Interview with a Collaborator

10

28

February 2018

What is your mission within PORTNET S.A.? My mission consists in designing, implementing and managing internal and external communication actions within the framework of the communication plan.

I also contribute to the promotion and enhancement of the image, offer and services of the National Single Window of Foreign Trade Procedures.

Can you tell us about your experience within the company? What captivated me at PORTNET S.A. is that with well diversified missions, there is no routine that takes place on a daily basis. It is an innovative and dynamic sector, targets are changing, and tools are evolving. We must always adapt our communication actions, constantly innovate and be creative.

What is your best professional memory at PORTNET S.A.? My best memory is undoubtedly the success of the 3rd Annual Conference of the PortNet Single Window thanks to the incredible involvement of the entire PORTNET S.A. Team.

What are your goals or ambitions for the coming years? My objectives for the year 2018 revolve around the deployment of the communication strategy that will allow the PortNet Single Window to emerge as an essential and unavoidable player that fully contributes to the development of the economy of the country by boosting the competitiveness of its companies.

If you are asked to describe the working environment and spirit at PORTNET S.A. in three words, which would it be? Innovation, involvement and good spirit.

Jihane BENTAHRACommunication Officer

Agenda1 March 2018 : IPCSA Members Workshop – Single Window and IPCSA Initiatives – Rotterdam, Holland

From 14 to 15 March, 2018 : Companies GENI Forum – Rabat (Morocco)

From 04 to 05 April, 2018 : 24th Edition of EMI-Companies Forum – Rabat (Morocco).

From 23 to 27 April, 2018 : 31st Edition of UN/CEFACT Forum – Geneva (Switzerland)

From 09 to 11 May, 2018 : 7th Edition of Logismed– Marrakech (Morocco)

From 14 to 15 March, 2018 : 24th Edition of International Logistics Congress (Eurolog 2018) – Marrakech (Morocco)

Press Review

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28

February 2018

Marine Connectivity Morocco ranked 16th in the world «Some 95% of Morocco’s international commercial exchanges use the maritime voice, hence the importance of the port and maritime sector for foreign trade and the label of the Moroccan economy», underlined the Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water, Abdelkader Amara, in an address at the opening of a seminar on the safety of navigation in Africa. Morocco has 3. 500 km of coastline and 41 ports, 13 of which are open to international trade, like those of Tangier Med and Casablanca, ensuring it 16th place worldwide in terms of maritime connectivity, noted the Minister. He also recalled that Morocco has been a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1962 and of its Council.

Wednesday, 7 February 2018, Informédiaire

Sea routes Morocco wants to simplify and digitise procedures between its ports and those of the EU «Some 95% of Morocco’s international commercial exchanges use the maritime voice, hence the importance of the port and maritime sector for foreign trade and the label of the Moroccan economy», underlined the Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water, Abdelkader Amara, in an address at the opening of a seminar on the safety of navigation in Africa. Morocco has 3. 500 km of coastline and 41 ports, 13 of which are open to international trade, like those of Tangier Med and Casablanca, ensuring it 16th place worldwide in terms of maritime connectivity, noted the Minister. He also recalled that Morocco has been a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1962 and of its Council. Friday 2 February , Agence Ecofin

Transhipment The port of Casablanca is positioned on Africa

«The port of Casablanca, an African goods transport hub! This is the dream of professionals in the port sector. The National Ports Agency (NPA) and the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII) have just given a real boost to transhipment activities in the port of the economic capital. Thus, after consultation with professionals, Customs has put in place a new procedure for handling goods in transhipment, similar to what is already in force at the port of Tangier Med. Instead of applying the customs import-export procedure to this type of trafficking, a simplified procedure has been adopted. For its part, the ANP has decided to grant a 70% discount to ship-owners wishing to operate transhipment traffic. This new measure aims to boost transhipment activities and traffic to ports in sub-Saharan Africa. These facilities granted to ship-owners and economic operators should very quickly have a positive impact on the activity of the port of Casablanca. Transhipment traffic to Africa could add 20 calls to the port, in addition to a financial gain of 200 MDH per year, with several new jobs to be created. Tuesday, February 20, Les Inspirations Eco

Maritime transport CMA CGM strengthens its ties between Morocco and West Africa

«The CMA CGM group is strengthening its positioning in Africa. The world container shipping specialist has just announced «the significant improvement of its EURAF 4 service directly linking Mediterranean countries, notably Morocco, to strategic markets in West Africa». Thus, as from 19 February 2018, EURAF (Europe-Africa) 4 will benefit from a new direct service from the Western Mediterranean and Morocco to Senegal and Nigeria with transit times deemed very competitive. The new rotation will start in Marseille to Barcelona, Valencia, Casablanca, Algeciras, Tangiers, Dakar (Senegal), Lomé (Togo), Bata, Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Apapa, Tincan, Onne (Nigeria), Kribi (Cameroon), Port Gentil, Libreville (Gabon), Douala (Cameroon), to return to the Mediterranean, precisely Algeciras then Marseille».

Tuesday, February 13, Le Matin

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