Mr. Essaadi added, while speaking at the opening of the fourth edition of the Regional Exhibition for Social and Solidarity Economy products, organised under the theme "Social and Solidarity Economy is a fruit-bearing tree that grows from different hands", that with more than 6,200 cooperatives bringing together 63,468 members, the Fès-Meknès region constitutes fertile ground for solidarity initiatives.
He pointed out that this significant number reflects this vitality, explaining that women play an important role, as the number of women's cooperatives in 2023 reached a total of 723, including 6,573 members.
Mr. Essaadi stated that the region includes, according to a study carried out by the High Commission for Planning in 2019, about 24,016 associations, highlighting that the Fès-Meknès region is considered a leader in promoting the social and solidarity economy.
He confirmed, in this context, that this sector contributes effectively to the valorisation of local products, aromatic and medicinal plants, and traditional crafts, such as the Beni Ouarain carpet, copper, zellige, doum, and mountain and spa tourism.
The Secretary of State also highlighted the "qualitative and exemplary" partnership that brings together his ministry and the Fès-Meknès Regional Council, noting that this partnership, which was embodied through a framework agreement, a contractual programme, and specific agreements, enabled the launch of ambitious initiatives such as the creation of a project incubator, a regional observatory, a House of Social and Solidarity Economy, and the organisation of mobile markets and regional exhibitions, including the Productive Woman Exhibition, and the contribution to the "Mouazara" programme to finance cooperatives.
For his part, the Wali of the Fès-Meknès region, Mr. Mouad El Jamai, emphasised the importance of digitising the marketing activities of social and solidarity economy products in order to open up to the international market, calling for the launch of a project in this regard for the benefit of cooperatives and traditional artisans in the region.
He added that the organisation of this exhibition falls within the framework of strengthening the important role that this economy plays in promoting local development and achieving an economic and social model, especially in rural areas.
For his part, the President of the Fès-Meknès Regional Council, Abdelouahed El Ansari, stated that the Council has made the social and solidarity economy a strategic axis of the 2022-2027 Regional Development Programme, by focusing on improving supply and marketing conditions, as well as supporting infrastructure.
He added that the region is involved in many government programmes and is preparing to host several structures dedicated to the social and solidarity economy, including a multidisciplinary complex for the valorisation of social and solidarity economy professions and products.
In a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Khadija Hajjoubi, Vice-President of the Fès-Meknès Regional Council, in charge of the social and solidarity economy, emphasised the specificity of this edition through the exhibition's opening to new actors such as the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, in order to bring cooperatives closer to customs services and the procedures to be followed to export traditional craft products.
Ms. Hajjoubi added that this edition is also distinguished by the participation of the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration, through social and solidarity economy products created by prisoners.
She also highlighted the organisation of the Caftan show in its second edition, which gave the exhibition a unique touch and celebrated the Moroccan Caftan as a symbol of authenticity and Moroccan identity.
This exhibition, which has become a distinguished annual event, is organised by the Fès-Meknès Regional Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Traditional Crafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, the Secretariat of State in charge of Traditional Crafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, and the Wilaya of the Fès-Meknès region, in cooperation with the Meknès Prefecture.
