In Morocco, the issue of standards has now become a central strategic challenge. The latest World Bank development report states that these standards, long perceived as mere technical tools, now play a role as crucial to prosperity as physical infrastructure, reports the daily newspaper L’Economiste in its Friday, December 12th edition. Their proliferation is redefining the global economic order, particularly in sectors where compliance is a prerequisite for market access.
For a country committed to crucial partnerships with the European Union and present in value chains such as aerospace and agri-food, regulatory alignment is no longer optional. This trend is confirmed through initiatives combining local skills and institutional expertise, such as the collaboration between 4D Business Consulting and the IMANOR ecosystem, designed to support companies in this strategic transition.
International leaders emphasize that standards are now key drivers of sustainable development, but the World Bank warns that adopting them without strengthening the national quality infrastructure creates a costly dependency on external factors. Metrology, accreditation, testing, and certification form the essential foundation for a credible improvement in standards.
The report also highlights a challenge specific to Morocco: the size of its public sector, one of the largest in the world. This significant presence complicates regulatory governance, in a context marked by youth unemployment and strong demographic pressure. Administrative modernization, digitalization, and the adoption of a performance-driven culture are becoming essential conditions for ensuring the consistent application of standards and the success of reforms.
Internationally, the pace is accelerating: more than half of the standards published by the ISO since its creation date from after 2000, notes L’Economiste. Developing countries, however, remain underrepresented in their development, due to a lack of resources and technical expertise. The World Bank recommends a three-step approach: adapt, align, and then contribute to the creation of new standards.
Despite their often invisible nature, these standards shape essential aspects of everyday economic life, from a building's structural integrity to the efficiency of supply chains and digital interoperability. For economies capable of mastering them, they represent a powerful driver of growth, innovation, and international integration. In this context, strengthening the participation of Moroccan stakeholders in international standardization bodies becomes a crucial step in defending national interests, anticipating technological developments, and fostering innovation.
