The first edition of Morocco Food World, scheduled for the second half of 2027, marks a new milestone in the international positioning of Morocco’s agri-food industry. Launched by the National Federation of Agri-Food Industries (FENAGRI) in partnership with Messe Düsseldorf, the event aims to connect Moroccan companies with international markets, investors, technologies and major buyers.
The signing ceremony between FENAGRI and Messe Düsseldorf in Rabat goes far beyond the launch of a traditional trade fair. It reflects a shared ambition to strengthen the competitiveness of Morocco’s agri-food industry and establish the Kingdom as a strategic hub between Europe, Africa and the rest of the world.
For Abdelmounim El Eulj, President of FENAGRI, the objective is clear: to contribute to enhancing the visibility of Moroccan industry both nationally and internationally. From its first edition, Morocco Food World is intended to become a reference event capable of bringing together the various components of the agri-food ecosystem and creating new opportunities for Moroccan companies.
A strategic sector for the Moroccan economy
The agri-food industry occupies a central position within Morocco’s industrial fabric. It contributes significantly to industrial output, employment, exports and value creation, while maintaining strong links with agriculture, logistics, packaging, energy and trade.
During the conference, Omar Hjira, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, stressed that the event is fully aligned with the Kingdom’s strategic orientations and its foreign trade roadmap. The objective is to support exporters, diversify markets and strengthen the international competitiveness of Moroccan products.
The sector currently generates more than 200,000 direct jobs and represents a significant share of Morocco’s industrial activity and exports. Its development therefore constitutes a major lever for strengthening Morocco’s productive sovereignty.
Towards new international markets
Morocco Food World is also designed as a gateway to new international markets. The ambition is not simply to increase export volumes, but to expand the geographical and technological reach of Moroccan companies.
The markets identified include the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Ghana and Angola, as well as emerging Asian markets such as India and Indonesia, where demand for quality food products is growing rapidly.
The development of trade and certification agreements, including those related to halal products, should further facilitate access to these markets and strengthen confidence between Moroccan and international private-sector players.
Ghita El Ghorfi, Director General of Morocco Foodex, highlighted the sector’s international potential. Agri-food is Morocco’s third-largest export sector after phosphates and the automotive industry, while Morocco is the world’s leading exporter of canned sardines.
The challenge now is to support a new generation of exporters, particularly companies entering international markets for the first time.
Productive sovereignty at the heart of priorities
For Mehdi Tazi, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Morocco Food World embodies the ambition of a more open, competitive and productive Morocco.
Productive sovereignty means producing more in Morocco, creating greater value locally, moving upmarket and exporting more Moroccan value. It also requires strengthening industrial integration, developing local supply chains and enabling Moroccan companies to become more competitive.
Sustainability and decarbonization are increasingly becoming competitiveness factors rather than peripheral issues. The industrial transformation sought by Morocco must therefore combine productivity, innovation, sustainability and export performance.
The development of SMEs and mid-sized companies is equally essential. Morocco cannot reach a new industrial level without enabling these companies to grow, invest, innovate, integrate local value chains and access international markets.
International expertise serving Moroccan industry
The partnership with Messe Düsseldorf gives Morocco Food World a strong international dimension. With 75 years of experience and a global network, Messe Düsseldorf brings extensive expertise in organizing major international trade fairs and connecting industrial ecosystems across markets.
Bernd Jablonowski, Executive Director of Messe Düsseldorf, praised the maturity of the Moroccan market and the dynamism of its industrial and agri-food sectors, stressing the importance of the partnership between the two organizations.
The agreement is therefore viewed as the starting point of a long-term collaboration aimed at building an international platform capable of strengthening Morocco’s position within global agri-food value chains.
From trade fair to business platform
Morocco Food World is intended to be more than an exhibition space. It should become a platform for business, investment, technology transfer and international cooperation.
The event will bring together agri-food manufacturers, food-processing and packaging technology suppliers, ingredient producers, service companies, investors and international buyers.
The objectives include developing B2B partnerships, attracting domestic and foreign investment, facilitating technology transfers, supporting exports and promoting Made in Morocco.
The event will also address major industrial challenges: competitiveness, sustainability, food sovereignty, innovation, digital transformation, local value creation and integration of industrial value chains.
2027: A new stage for Moroccan agri-food
Scheduled for the second half of 2027, Morocco Food World will provide an opportunity to assess the progress made by Morocco’s agri-food industry and showcase its industrial potential.
Its success will ultimately be measured not only by the number of exhibitors or visitors, but by the contracts signed, investments generated, industrial partnerships created, new exporters supported and additional value retained within Morocco.
The ambition is to position Morocco as a leading African and Euro-Mediterranean agri-food platform, capable of connecting producers, investors, technologies and international markets.
The launch of Morocco Food World thus reflects a broader transformation of Morocco’s industrial model. The country is seeking not only to produce more, but also to transform more locally, innovate, strengthen control over value chains and export increasingly sophisticated products.
