Sustainability As A Lever For Territorial Attractiveness: Qualitative Study For The Case Of The Tangier Automotive Cluster

Abstract

This article analyses how sustainability can be defined as a determining factor to stimulate the attractiveness of the automotive industry in the Tangier region of Morocco. To face the several challenges related to ecology and the global market demands, the industrial areas must place sustainability in the center of their strategies for their competitiveness. To analyse the perception and implementation of sustainable practices, this study relies on a qualitative methodology, involving 60 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the Tangier automotive ecosystem. The selected results have been processed via a thematic analysis using the Nvivo 15 software, which has revealed that sustainability infrastructures (clean energy, waste management), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), emission reduction, and the use of renewable energy are key elements that upgrade Tangier as an organized proximity (Torre & Rallet, 2005), the concept of the learning region, and the theory of institutional decoupling for its attractiveness. Moreover, this study emphasizes multiple theoretical frameworks such as organized proximity (Torre & Rallet, 2005), the concept of the learning region, and the theory of institutional decoupling to elucidate the observed dynamics. It highlights that sustainability practices are no longer an option but a foundation stone shaping the industries’ orientation. Taking into account that Tangier is positioned as an attractive hub for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the industrial zone continues facing several challenges, calling for a particular focus to integrate the best business and sustainable practices to strengthen its scale.