Designing Comprehensive Cluster Policies in Developing Countries: Perspectives for Morocco

Cluster policy has arrived at the mainstream of economic policy since the early 1990. In many developing countries including those on the African continent, clusters on the regional and local levels have been promoted. The North African countries offer an interesting case because of their proximity to European markets, the necessity to employ policies that enhance growth and create employment opportunities due to their high youth unemployment, and their comparatively high technological level. This makes innovation-related methods of cluster promotion feasible in these countries, while at the same time clusters in rural regions require more efficiency-oriented approaches. This calls for a comprehensive strategy of cluster promotion which is suggested and elaborated here for Morocco.