Territorial competitiveness and regional development model: analysis of the case of the Souss-Massa region[Compétitivité territoriale et modèle de développement régional :analyse du cas de la région Souss-Massa]

This paper examines the structural determinants of the territorial competitiveness of the Souss-Massa region within the institutional framework of advanced regionalization in Morocco. To this end, we adopted a rigorous empirical approach based on the systematic exploitation of official secondary data (notably from the High Commission for Planning, the Regional Tourism Observatory, and reports from the Regional Council). The study constructs a Synthetic Index of Territorial Competitiveness (SITC). This index is built around four interdependent pillars: economic performance measured by regional GDP and sectoral productivity; human capital understood through education levels and the alignment between employment and skills; physical infrastructure including transport networks and digital equipment; and institutional governance assessed by the quality of public services and coordination among stakeholders. The quantitative results reveal a generally robust level of competitiveness, with a normalized score of 0.64 out of 1. This performance is primarily driven by a strong agro-industrial and tourism specialization, two historically structuring sectors for the regional economy. However, the multidimensional analysis highlights persistent intra-regional disparities, particularly between the Souss Valley and mountainous areas, as well as a critical deficit in qualified human capital, especially in the fields of engineering and territorial management. These factors hinder the structural transition toward a higher value-added territorial economy. Our research concludes on the imperative of strengthening territorial governance through a more agile and collaborative approach, involving local authorities, universities, and businesses, combined with strategic economic diversification toward bio-resources and digital services. This would improve the resilience of the regional development model in the face of contemporary climate, social, and economic challenges. Keywords: Territorial competitiveness; Souss-Massa; Synthetic index; Regional development; Morocco; Territorial governance.