Tanger MED SEZs: A Logistic and Industrial Hub in the Western Mediterranean

This paper aims to investigate the impact of Special Economic Zones within a specific system-based economy, and variations in both individual sectoral specializations and those of the local labour market. There are six Special Economic Zones geographically located within the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region in northern Morocco; each zone is centred on specialised production and strictly related to Tanger MED Port Complex, 1 and 2. At the present, they are among the most influential hubs of the Mediterranean and a crucial element of Morocco’s economic and commercial development strategy. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how the presence of regional SEZs has positively impacted the increase in national FDEs and the increase in company localisations in the area under study. This research is to be credited equally to both authors, for it is the result of their joint work

Do industry 4.0 technologies matter when companies backshore manufacturing activities? An explorative study comparing Europe and the US

The objective of this chapter is to analyze the impact (if any) of Industry 4.0 enabling technology on firms’ decision to relocate to the home country their offshored production activities. In particular, the chapter analyzes whether Industry 4.0 technologies may represent a driver/motivation or an enabling factor for companies which are evaluating such a strategic alternative. In order to reach such an objective, a two-step explorative methodology has been applied. After implementing a structured literature review, empirical evidence of backshoring decisions implemented by both European and US companies has been analyzed. Collected findings show that the majority of sampled articles conceptualize Industry 4.0 technologies as a driver. At the same time, empirical findings show some interesting differences between European and US companies adopting backshoring decisions based on/enabled by Industry 4.0 technologies. Finally, competences (related to both the manufacturing activities as a whole and the Industry 4.0 technologies) emerge as one of the most critical issue for investigated companies