Morocco is making its mark in Miami as the guest of honor at the Americas Food and Beverage 2024, one of the leading U.S. events dedicated to agri-food products for the Florida, Caribbean, and Latin American markets. This edition of the show, which opened Monday and runs through September 18, showcases Morocco’s culinary wealth and growing export potential.
Morocco at the forefront of the agri-food sector
Morocco’s ambassador to Washington, Youssef Amrani, who was present at the opening of the show, stressed the importance of Morocco’s participation in this world-renowned event: “With its exceptional culinary heritage and growing export capacities, Morocco is proud to participate once again in this show. We are highlighting the excellence of our agri-food and fishery products to an American market that is increasingly fond of our exceptional national products.”
Accompanied by the Consul General of the Kingdom in Miami, Chafika El Habti, and the General Director of Morocco Foodex, Ghita El Ghorfin, Mr. Amrani insisted that this show represents much more than a simple commercial showcase: it is an opportunity to create lasting partnerships and exchange ideas to shape the future of the agri-food industries.
In partnership with the World Trade Center Miami, the Moroccan pavilion stood out during this edition by offering a wide range of products reflecting the diversity and richness of Morocco’s culinary heritage. The show welcomes more than 7,500 professionals, offering Moroccan producers a valuable opportunity to showcase their products and build relationships with key players in the North American market.
Several American personalities attended the opening session, including Senator Maria Elvira Salazar, Miami Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava and Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, as well as World Trade Center Miami President Roberto Diaz and Clara Acosta, representative of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. They all welcomed the importance of Morocco’s participation, reflecting its growing place on the international scene, particularly in the food export sector.
Increasingly strong trade ties with the United States
Morocco’s participation in the Americas Food and Beverage Show is intended to demonstrate its continued commitment to strengthening its presence in the American market and expanding trade between the two countries. Ambassador Amrani recalled that the strong bilateral cooperation between Morocco and the United States is exemplified by the Free Trade Agreement signed in 2004. This fruitful partnership has enabled bilateral trade to experience a remarkable increase, from $925 million in 2005 to $5 billion in 2023. American exports to Morocco increased by 700%, reaching $3.4 billion in 2023, while Moroccan exports to the United States tripled, reaching $1.6 billion in 2023.
With a Moroccan community of over 80,000 based in Florida, Morocco is working to strengthen cultural and economic ties with the United States. The inauguration of the direct Casablanca-Miami flight in 2019 illustrates this dynamic, as do bilateral agreements in the port and maritime sectors.
A strategic partner for the future
Morocco, as the guest of honor at the show, reaffirms its position as an essential partner for the United States, according to Ambassador Amrani. He added that the Kingdom constitutes a gateway to Africa and a strategic link in the development of resilient and sustainable supply chains in many key sectors, including agriculture. This sector, according to him, plays a crucial role in food security in Africa and around the world.
LNT with CdP
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– 2024-09-17 10:38:27
