Interview with Abderrahim Benkirane: "The automotive sector must professionalize"
6 October 2009
Read by 1575 persons
Newly elected head of the Association of Vehicle Importers in Morocco (Aivam), Abderrahim Benkirane has already started a vision and action plan for this corporation. A vast project aimed at developing this sector.
What are your priorities in your new mission as president of Aivam?
Abderrahim Benkirane: Before listing the priorities and the action program for the new council's mandate, we must formulate a clear vision for Aivam by 2010 and break it down into three or four major areas that will constitute our roadmap for the entire mandate.
Of course, this vision will be submitted to the general assembly of members who will rule on the work of the president and his council. For your information, reflection has already begun and we have proposals to present from the start of the school year. In consultation with our council, we propose a vision of an association that will contribute to the professionalization of the sector and the standardization of best European practices. Among the strategic issues that we propose to review, there is in particular the reliability of the declared statistics to move from the simple declarative to the volumes of vehicles delivered and registered. We will also have to undertake aggressive action against the illicit trade in spare parts (counterfeiting and smuggling). Last but not least, the governance of the Association must be strengthened. I proposed to the council at our first meeting the creation of a Management Committee composed of the vice-president, the treasurer and the secretary general. This body will ensure compliance with the procedures to be put in place, will study contracts and relations with suppliers. It will also be responsible for making proposals on the remuneration and prerogatives of the delegated director. Our proposals to the members will of course include the themes that may be priorities for our Association. To this end, a questionnaire has already been sent to all members. In short, the new office will only have two months after its election to put in place a development program in line with its strategic vision and in perfect consultation with its members.
What is your view on the Moroccan automotive market and its prospects for evolution?
A.B: In a country where the penetration rate remains very low (Editor's note: around 60 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants), where the average age of the vehicle fleet is very high, the growth prospects can only be very promising.
The sales volumes and the double-digit growth recorded continuously for several years now reassure us in our position. The development of the automotive sector requires, however, that the public authorities put in place the necessary means to better regulate this market and require compliance with safety and anti-pollution standards. The introduction of minimum standards in this area is urgent for both new vehicles and the quality of spare parts marketed in the Moroccan market. Aivam, as a credible and legitimate interlocutor in the sector, will deploy all the necessary efforts alongside the authorities and administrations concerned to establish standards and rules whose sole purpose is to protect the Moroccan customer and offer them the best possible products and services at the most optimal price.
Precisely, do you think that the public authorities are sufficiently involved in the evolution of the Moroccan automotive sector?
It suffices to note that the automobile has been chosen as one of Morocco's global trades in the emergence plan to have no doubt about it. Mr. Jettou himself has been a major player in the development of the sector since he was Minister of Industry. The agreements with the State for the economic car, the encouragement of investment in the automobile, whether in upstream or downstream activities, as well as the government's overall strategic approach to the sector, attest to the strong political will and the government's interest in our sector.
What are the problems facing Moroccan vehicle importers and how do you plan to address them?
A.B: I will mention the quality of fuels, the rise of imports of used vehicles, the counterfeiting of spare parts, the insufficient means of vehicle homologation, but also a quantitative and qualitative deficiency in terms of vocational training.
In order to rejuvenate the vehicle fleet in Morocco, it is important to dissuade the import of used vehicles or at least restrict it on the basis of safety and environmental criteria. For fuels, we are still very far from the anti-pollution standards and the quality of fuels in Europe.
The sector is experiencing very significant losses due to the introduction of counterfeit parts into the market. This is therefore penalizing for both the State and the community. The impossibility of homologating vehicles today on the basis of safety standards offers no minimum guarantee to the Moroccan consumer. The automotive sector must professionalize in all its trades (commercial, services...). The lack of qualified skills to meet the needs of the sector creates a chronic deficit of qualified profiles and leads to massive poaching between colleagues in the sector.
Every two years, the Auto-Expo show suffers from the cramped and outdated nature of the venue where it is held. Doesn't the largest show in Morocco deserve a better exhibition space?
A.B: Indeed, the Casablanca Exhibition Fair where the Auto-Expo show is regularly held is becoming increasingly cramped given the ever-increasing number of exhibitors and the vehicles they present.
The grand palais is generally reserved for passenger cars, while light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles are exhibited outside.
All this creates logistical problems and a lack of fluidity in visitor traffic, not to mention parking problems.
In addition to this, there is the risk of the site being destroyed as part of the development of the royal avenue. As of today, we unfortunately have no immediate alternative. But a reflection group will very soon be working to assess the various possible solutions.
Posted on June 10, 2009
voitureaumaroc.com
What are your priorities in your new mission as president of Aivam?
Abderrahim Benkirane: Before listing the priorities and the action program for the new council's mandate, we must formulate a clear vision for Aivam by 2010 and break it down into three or four major areas that will constitute our roadmap for the entire mandate.
Of course, this vision will be submitted to the general assembly of members who will rule on the work of the president and his council. For your information, reflection has already begun and we have proposals to present from the start of the school year. In consultation with our council, we propose a vision of an association that will contribute to the professionalization of the sector and the standardization of best European practices. Among the strategic issues that we propose to review, there is in particular the reliability of the declared statistics to move from the simple declarative to the volumes of vehicles delivered and registered. We will also have to undertake aggressive action against the illicit trade in spare parts (counterfeiting and smuggling). Last but not least, the governance of the Association must be strengthened. I proposed to the council at our first meeting the creation of a Management Committee composed of the vice-president, the treasurer and the secretary general. This body will ensure compliance with the procedures to be put in place, will study contracts and relations with suppliers. It will also be responsible for making proposals on the remuneration and prerogatives of the delegated director. Our proposals to the members will of course include the themes that may be priorities for our Association. To this end, a questionnaire has already been sent to all members. In short, the new office will only have two months after its election to put in place a development program in line with its strategic vision and in perfect consultation with its members.
What is your view on the Moroccan automotive market and its prospects for evolution?
A.B: In a country where the penetration rate remains very low (Editor's note: around 60 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants), where the average age of the vehicle fleet is very high, the growth prospects can only be very promising.
The sales volumes and the double-digit growth recorded continuously for several years now reassure us in our position. The development of the automotive sector requires, however, that the public authorities put in place the necessary means to better regulate this market and require compliance with safety and anti-pollution standards. The introduction of minimum standards in this area is urgent for both new vehicles and the quality of spare parts marketed in the Moroccan market. Aivam, as a credible and legitimate interlocutor in the sector, will deploy all the necessary efforts alongside the authorities and administrations concerned to establish standards and rules whose sole purpose is to protect the Moroccan customer and offer them the best possible products and services at the most optimal price.
Precisely, do you think that the public authorities are sufficiently involved in the evolution of the Moroccan automotive sector?
It suffices to note that the automobile has been chosen as one of Morocco's global trades in the emergence plan to have no doubt about it. Mr. Jettou himself has been a major player in the development of the sector since he was Minister of Industry. The agreements with the State for the economic car, the encouragement of investment in the automobile, whether in upstream or downstream activities, as well as the government's overall strategic approach to the sector, attest to the strong political will and the government's interest in our sector.
What are the problems facing Moroccan vehicle importers and how do you plan to address them?
A.B: I will mention the quality of fuels, the rise of imports of used vehicles, the counterfeiting of spare parts, the insufficient means of vehicle homologation, but also a quantitative and qualitative deficiency in terms of vocational training.
In order to rejuvenate the vehicle fleet in Morocco, it is important to dissuade the import of used vehicles or at least restrict it on the basis of safety and environmental criteria. For fuels, we are still very far from the anti-pollution standards and the quality of fuels in Europe.
The sector is experiencing very significant losses due to the introduction of counterfeit parts into the market. This is therefore penalizing for both the State and the community. The impossibility of homologating vehicles today on the basis of safety standards offers no minimum guarantee to the Moroccan consumer. The automotive sector must professionalize in all its trades (commercial, services...). The lack of qualified skills to meet the needs of the sector creates a chronic deficit of qualified profiles and leads to massive poaching between colleagues in the sector.
Every two years, the Auto-Expo show suffers from the cramped and outdated nature of the venue where it is held. Doesn't the largest show in Morocco deserve a better exhibition space?
A.B: Indeed, the Casablanca Exhibition Fair where the Auto-Expo show is regularly held is becoming increasingly cramped given the ever-increasing number of exhibitors and the vehicles they present.
The grand palais is generally reserved for passenger cars, while light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles are exhibited outside.
All this creates logistical problems and a lack of fluidity in visitor traffic, not to mention parking problems.
In addition to this, there is the risk of the site being destroyed as part of the development of the royal avenue. As of today, we unfortunately have no immediate alternative. But a reflection group will very soon be working to assess the various possible solutions.
Posted on June 10, 2009
voitureaumaroc.com
