Press Releases 2006 - 2007
OUTSTANDING US PARTICIPATION
IN THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE FAIR IN MOROCCO
(Meknes, April 20-27, 2006)
The city of Meknes will host the First International Agriculture Fair in Morocco (SIAGRIM) on April 20-27, 2006. The United States will participate massively in the event which covers various sectors of Morocco’s agriculture (agricultural production, breeding, water, etc). The US participation includes the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as representatives of US agricultural professional organizations and US businesses coming to Morocco especially for the fair.
The 117m2 US stall will host USAID/Morocco’s activities, in particular its Integrated Agriculture and Agribusiness Activity, and will also host the USDA, the Commercial Service of the US Embassy, and the US Chamber of Commerce in Morocco. The US delegation will include about 40 participants and exhibitors, and US importers coming especially to take benefit from the fair and meet with Moroccan producers.
The US technical assistance to Morocco will be highlighted during the fair. So will be the new significant commercial opportunities for Morocco and the United States in agriculture and agricultural trade under their Free Trade Agreement.
USAID sponsors a workshop on Integration of Agriculture and Agribusiness, scheduled for Friday, April 21. Two US university professors were invited to participate in the workshop. These are Pr. Travis Lybbert of Florida International University, who will present the major trends in agriculture and agribusiness integration, and Pr. Michael Boland of Kansas State University, to present specific integration cases.
The idea of the fair was put out by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. It will take place in Sahrij Souani – a historic site in the city of Meknes – on a 50,000m2 area including 15,000m2 reserved for stalls. Around 350 participants/exhibitors, almost 200 companies and 150,000 visitors are expected to come to the fair, which is structured in six poles: agricultural intrants and services, natural resources, agricultural and agribusiness products, agricultural machinery, regional resources, and breeding.
April 19, 2006
