Morocco to showcase wide range of fresh fruits & vegetables at WOP Dubai 2016 - International Perishable Expo Middle East

Morocco to showcase wide range of fresh fruits & vegetables at WOP Dubai 2016 - International Perishable Expo Middle East

Kingdom participates for third consecutive year to bolster export of agri-food products

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Morocco has announced its third consecutive participation in WOP Dubai 2016 - International Perishable Expo Middle East, taking place from November 13 to 15, 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Center.  Organized by the food export control and coordination organization (Etablissement Autonome de Contrôle et de Coordination des Exportations, EACCE), Morocco’s presence is in line with the implementation of the ‘Green Morocco Plan,’ especially for its component related to the development of agri-food exports.

The North African kingdom will occupy a 204 sq m pavilion, hosting 14 companies to showcase a wide range of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, early vegetables, and rose hips to visiting audience. This event will also serve as a platform for exchange of ideas, knowledge and innovation through more than 400 business-to-business (b2b) meetings between Moroccan operators and clients in the region.

Mehdi Larhrib, Director - Promotion and Development, EACCE, said: “Following tremendous response during the last two outings at WOP Dubai, Morocco is once again back on the show. The demand for food stuff, especially fresh fruits and vegetables have witnessed a robust increase over the years and the event is a perfect opportunity for us to highlight agricultural capabilities of the Kingdom. WOP Dubai’s format offers us tremendous opportunities to explore potential new trade partnership to market Moroccan fresh produce to the region. We are upbeat that we will be able to surpass the success of last edition at this year’s participation.”

Hosting its 7th edition, WOP Dubai 2016 - International Perishable Expo Middle East has strengthened its position as the gateway to the Middle East for fresh products. The consumption of foodstuff in the region is among the fastest growing in the world. During its first edition, the show attracted over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries and visited by 6,000 professional visitors. Renowned for its commercial focus, WOP Dubai offers genuine opportunities for meetings between producers and buyers of fresh produce, both from the regional and the world.

The UAE is a major international trading hub for agri-food products in the Gulf region. Characterized by a strong domestic demand, it has also emerged as a major center for re-export to the other markets in the region. Over the past few years, Morocco’s agri-food exports to the region have witnessed an upward trend, where the volume of exports has increased threefold since 2011.

Highlight of Morocco’s participation in WOP - Dubai 2016:

  • Promote Kingdom’s local products and highlight the quality and diversity of the fresh produce
  • Market products by spotlighting on their advantages with the aim to strengthen their positioning in the international market
  • Use the platform to network with key industry players, meet partners to explore business prospects, and build new partnerships to discover new markets
  • Showcase agriculture sector’s key potential, achievements and development forecasts within the framework of the Green Morocco Plan

Morocco’s goals for WOP - Dubai 2016 are attainable, supported by the strategic framework of the Green Morocco Plan which aims to improve the quality and increase the value of local agricultural products. Morocco's participation in the 2016 WOP DUBAI offers a real opportunity to explore new economic partnership opportunities and to present its export products which can result in significant growth prospects in the sector.

About the Green Morocco Plan

Agriculture is a strategic sector for Morocco, as it plays a crucial role in the country's macro-economic balances. Indeed, its contribution to national GDP stands at 19% (15% for agriculture and 4% for the agri-industry). This sector employs over 4 million people living in rural areas. It thus represents a source of income for 80% of Morocco's rural population. Agriculture also creates about 100,000 jobs in the field of agri-industry.

The Moroccan government adopted the "Green Morocco Plan" strategy in April 2008 in order to revitalize the agricultural sector. This policy aims to highlight the territory's agricultural potential with a view to make agriculture the main growth driver of the national economy in the next 10 to 15 years.

The strategy is hinged on a global approach covering all the players according to their own objectives. It is based on two main pillars: A high value-added agriculture & A solidarity agriculture

About the EACCE

Created in 1986, the Independent Organization for the Control and Coordination of Exports (EtablissementAutonome de Contrôle et de Coordination des Exportations, EACCE) is a public body serving the sector of agri-food products and fisheries intended for exports. As such, its intervention covers the sectors of fresh produce, processed vegetable products, and fisheries.