Morocco has launched a unified digital trade platform aimed at overhauling import and export procedures, cutting logistics delays by up to 50 per cent and strengthening the country’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub.
The platform, named PortNet Commerce Extérieur, was officially introduced on Monday at the headquarters of the National Ports Agency in Casablanca, marking a major step in Morocco’s digital transformation of its foreign trade system.
Officials said the system is designed as a single digital gateway for all trade-related procedures, replacing a fragmented structure that previously required importers and exporters to interact separately with customs, ports, banks, logistics firms and multiple government agencies.
By consolidating these processes into one interface, authorities expect to reduce processing times for trade operations by between 20 and 50 per cent, depending on the complexity of shipments.
The platform is also expected to handle up to 40 million documents annually, reflecting Morocco’s expanding trade volumes and growing role in global supply chains.
At the centre of the system is the National Ports Agency in coordination with PortNet, which serves as the central digital interface for foreign trade operations.
Major port operators, including Tanger Med Port Authority, are also integrated into the system, given the strategic importance of the Tanger Med complex, one of Africa’s largest container ports and a key gateway for Euro-Mediterranean trade flows.
Officials say the platform will eliminate duplicated paperwork, reduce manual data entry and allow traders to track shipments in real time through a unified dashboard.
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The initiative follows more than a year of coordination between government agencies and private sector stakeholders, including logistics operators and business groups such as the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, which has long criticised administrative delays as a drag on export competitiveness.
Authorities said several services are already operational on the platform, while additional modules and institutions will be integrated gradually during a pilot phase before full nationwide rollout.
The reform comes as Morocco continues to expand its export base, particularly in automotive manufacturing, fertilisers and textiles, while strengthening its role as a logistics hub linking Africa, Europe and the Atlantic corridor.
Officials involved in the project said the digital system is designed not only to speed up trade procedures but also to improve transparency and coordination across supply chains.
The launch of PortNet reflects a broader national strategy to modernise Morocco’s economy through digitalisation, with a focus on reducing transaction costs and enhancing efficiency in key sectors such as ports, transport and trade administration.
Analysts say the success of the platform could further strengthen Morocco’s attractiveness to foreign investors by improving predictability and reducing bottlenecks in cross-border trade operations.
