His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided, on Tuesday at Sahrij Souani in Meknès, over the opening of the 13th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM-2018), organized from April 24 to 29 under the High Patronage of H.M. King Mohammed VI, around the theme "Logistics and agricultural markets".
At the beginning of the opening ceremony, H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan proceeded to present distinctive signs of origin and quality to nine agricultural producers.
Thus, His Royal Highness presented the Geographical Indication "Miel Azir" (rosemary) of the Oriental region to Hamzaoui Yahya, president of the Geographical Indication association for the labeling of Miel Azir in the province of Taourirt (Oriental region); the Geographical Indication "Miel de Daghmouss (Euphorbia resinifera) Souss Massa" to Abdellah Aguenaou, president of the regional association of beekeepers of the Souss Massa Drâa region (Souss-Massa region); the Geographical Indication "Boustahmi black dates of Drâa" to Lahcen Asmiress, president of the National Federation of Date Producers (Drâa-Tafilalet region); the Geographical Indication "Ezznatia hot pepper" to Mohamed Rkhila, president of the Zenata agricultural cooperative (Casablanca-Settat region); and the Geographical Indication "Amezmiz Olive Oil" to Ahmed Bay, president of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives Huiles d'Amezmiz (Marrakech-Safi region).
H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan also presented the Geographical Indication "Lamtat Fès Olive Oil" to Mohamed El Bouchikhi, president of the economic interest group "Lamtat Fès" (Fès-Meknès region); the Geographical Indication "Dir Béni Mellal Olive Oil" to Oueghad Abdessalam, president of the economic interest group "Huiles Dir Béni Mellal" (Beni Mellal-Khénifra region); as well as the designation of origin "Kalâat Megouna Dades Rose Water" to Jalal Charaf, president of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Aromatic Flowers (Draâ Tafilalet region); and the Agricultural Quality Label "Moroccan black olives Lamjaâd" to Houda Farah Guessouss, president of the Moroccan Federation of Agricultural Product Canning Industries (Casablanca-Settat region).
At the entrance to the Exhibition, His Royal Highness was greeted by Ms. Marjlijn Sonnema, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands (Guest of Honour country), Mr. Stephane Travet, Minister of Agriculture and Food of France, Mr. Eyebe Ayissi Henri, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon, Mr. Honoré Feizoure, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Central African Republic, Mr. Youssoufa Yerima Mandjo, Minister of Livestock and Animal Health of the Central African Republic, Mr. Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Côte d'Ivoire, and by Mr. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Côte d'Ivoire.
H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan was also greeted by Mr. Owusu Afriyoe Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture of Ghana, Ms. Pamela Charette, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture of Seychelles, Mr. Nicolas Dos Santos, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock of Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Elsadig Fadlalla Sbah Elkhir Mohamed, Minister of State to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Sudan, Mr. Jalal Eddine Rabeh Ahmed Bachir, Minister of State to the Ministry of Animal Resources of Sudan, Ms. Patricia Zodi Carlie, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Gabon, as well as by Mr. Ali Bety, Minister, High Commissioner for the 3N Initiative (Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens) of Niger.
Subsequently, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan visited the various poles of the Exhibition and followed explanations on the products exhibited at the "Regions", "Morocco Agriculture Village", "Sponsors", "Machinery", "Local Products", "Livestock", "Animal Feed", "International", "Agro-supplies", "Agricultural Products", and "Nature" poles.
Upon his arrival at the Exhibition, H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard that rendered honors, before being greeted by the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Secretary of State in charge of Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Wali of the Fès-Meknès region, the president of the regional council, the governor of the prefecture of Meknès, elected officials and representatives of the civil and military authority of the prefecture, as well as by several high-ranking personalities.
The 13th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco sees the participation of 1,400 exhibitors from 70 countries. This large-scale event has chosen the theme "Logistics and agricultural markets" this year, a subject that is at the heart of the challenges of sustainable and resilient agriculture. This theme illustrates the international dimension of SIAM and the evolution of the Green Morocco Plan strategy, now focused on the marketing of agricultural production and both national and international outlets.
SIAM has succeeded in positioning itself as a flagship event for Morocco in general and its agriculture in particular. Over the editions, it has acquired a leading pan-African dimension and has become the major gathering for professionals in the sector on the scale of the continent.
