On an area of 223 m2 at the Palais des congrès in the heart of the Quebec metropolis, the Moroccan pavilion highlights a range of agri-food and fishery products with the ambition of developing new business partnerships and consolidating the Kingdom’s share of the Canadian and North American market in general, which is as immense as it is promising.
For the 21st edition of this meeting, key players in the international agri-food industry come together to discover the latest market trends, boost exports and establish business partnerships.
Some 18 Moroccan exporters exhibit, for three days, their products in several sectors: olives and condiments, sea fishing products, couscous and pasta, biscuits and dates, etc.
For Morocco, this event considered as a crossroads of innovation in the agri-food field, participation as a country in the spotlight constitutes a major opportunity to ensure the influence of Origin Morocco and strengthen the position of the Kingdom as a producer and agri-food exporter on the North American market, indicated the general director of Morocco Foodex, Ghita El Gorfi.
Ms. El Gorfi spoke during the opening ceremony held in the presence of HM the King’s ambassador to Canada, Souriya Otmani, the Quebec Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, and the Director General of SIAL Canada, Tony Melis , as well as several other personalities from the economic and diplomatic world.
“Morocco is well known in Canada for its citrus fruits with an annual export volume of 80,000 tonnes, growing year after year. The show offers the opportunity to showcase the full variety of our products, both fresh and processed, as well as seafood,” added Ghita Ghorfi, noting that the objective is to expand the distribution chain of these products. in the Canadian market to reach a wide range of consumers.
While emphasizing the importance of Morocco’s strong participation in SIAL to ensure better visibility, the CEO of Morocco FoodEx wished to recall that if Moroccan gastronomy is so world-famous it is because it is prepared based on varied and good quality products.
Throughout the Show, which attracts more than 20,000 visitors from all over the world, including retail, catering and food processing professionals, Morocco Foodex organizes culinary demonstrations, as well as a program of B2B meetings, between Moroccan exhibitors and Canadian buyers.
In a speech for the occasion, the Moroccan ambassador to Canada immediately recalled the crucial importance of issues related to food security, sustainable agriculture and the promotion of innovation in this sector for safe food. , healthy, authentic and quality, emphasizing that Morocco, rich in its terroir, its culture and its centuries-old know-how, offers a diverse and high-quality range of food products which are increasingly appreciated throughout the world. international.
The diplomat highlighted in this sense the constant growth of Moroccan exports which are not limited only to raw products, but also include a wide range of processed products, such as canned goods, frozen products, extra olive oils. virgins…
“For these products and others to continue to shine on the international scene, it is essential to continue our efforts to guarantee their quality, their health safety and their traceability,” she noted, noting the efforts undertaken by Morocco under the aegis of HM King Mohammed VI to create the conditions for the emergence of a competitive, innovative agri-food sector that respects environmental requirements, and is constantly seeking new opportunities and outlets.
Referring to trade relations with Canada, Ms. Otmani rejoiced that Morocco is today the 4th economic and commercial partner of this country in Africa with a trade volume which amounts to more than 1.15 billion Canadian dollars. .
Both the director of SIAL and the Quebec Minister of Agriculture highlighted the importance of Morocco’s distinguished participation in this edition of the major agri-food exhibition in Canada, seeing it as a testimony to the variety, the quality and authenticity of Moroccan products, as well as the commitment on both sides to strengthen bilateral relations.
The dynamic of partnership between Morocco and Canada, which this year marks the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries, has been significantly strengthened, particularly on the commercial level.
The value of Moroccan agri-food exports to Canada thus reached more than three million dollars, marking a notable increase of 47% compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic. The agri-food sector represented, in 2022, a value share of 63%, compared to Morocco’s total exports to this North American market.
According to professionals, Canada offers considerable growth potential for Moroccan agri-food and fishery products, due to its large size, its high purchasing power, its enthusiasm for quality products, as well as the food trends of consumers which make it a flagship market.