The European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to Morocco, Patricia Llombart Cussac, stressed, on the sidelines of the 15th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM), that agriculture is a key sector of the prosperous partnership between Morocco and the European Union (EU).
“Trade volume, product quality, job generation, and the preservation of soil and water, all encourage us to work together in the agricultural field. The reason for our participation in SIAM 2023 is to introduce Moroccan actors and the public to the actions, opportunities, and prospects of this partnership,” said Llombart Cussac, quoted in a communiqué on the participation of the European Union (EU) in SIAM.
The communiqué noted that the European Union’s (EU) participation in SIAM is part of the Morocco-European Union partnership in the agricultural and forestry sectors and the Morocco-European Union Green Partnership signed in October 2022.
According to the communiqué, the European Union (EU) will have a significant presence at the event, with representatives from the European Union (EU) delegation, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Erasmus+ office in Morocco.
The communiqué added that the exhibition’s agenda will include several meetings and events for professionals, the general public, and especially the youth, under the theme “A Different Agriculture Is Possible.”
The communiqué affirmed that SIAM is a privileged platform to highlight sustainable agriculture, a key element of the Moroccan-EU Green Partnership aimed at consolidating cooperation in the fields of environmental protection, biodiversity, and the fight against climate change, adding that “Al Ard al Khadraa-Green Land” program is a concretization of this partnership.
The communiqué further noted that this program, with a funding of EUR 115 million (MAD 1.26 billion), aims to support the green, inclusive, and innovative aspects of Morocco’s two national strategies, “Green Generation” and “Forests of Morocco,” stressing that it also reflects the importance that the European Union (EU) attaches to improving the environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural and forestry activities, all while promoting green entrepreneurship and the social and economic inclusion of rural populations.
At the European Union (EU) stand, visitors will have the opportunity to discover business opportunities in the agricultural sector, and the agricultural cooperation programs between Morocco and the European Union (EU), including the European Investment Bank (EIB).
“The European Union (EU) and its institutions are fully committed to accompanying and supporting Morocco’s major development projects, particularly in aquaculture, water, education and youth, social protection and inclusion, health, infrastructure financing, and climate risk assessment,” said the communiqué, adding that the European Investment Bank (EIB) representatives will present to visitors the projects funded by the Bank in Morocco.
The communiqué further reported that the Erasmus+ team will also be available on site to promote the international academic mobility opportunities offered to students, researchers, and teachers.
Several meetings are scheduled to take place with the objective of addressing the Morocco-EU partnership in the field of agriculture, the conservation of water resources and green finance, innovative approaches and solutions in agriculture (including a session on “networking pitch” for young project leaders), market opportunities, the presentation of the “Euromed Trade Helpdesk” platform, and a session dedicated to youth to explore the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ program.
