Crown Prince Opens Meknes Forum on Sustainable Farming
Under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided over the opening ceremony of the 17th International Agriculture Show (SIAM) in Morocco on Monday at Sahrij Souani in Meknes. The event, running from April 21st to 27th, is themed “Agriculture and Rural World: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development.”
The Crown Prince’s presence underscores the King’s continued dedication to the agricultural sector and Morocco’s commitment to global priorities such as food security, sustainable development, and combating climate change.
Upon his arrival, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan reviewed a Royal Guard detachment and was greeted by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, and other local dignitaries.
He also greeted representatives of the guest of honor country, France, including the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Europe, as well as representatives from other invited nations (Angola, Benin, Central Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Iraq, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, Palestine, São Tomé and Príncipe, and South Sudan) and development partners such as ISESCO, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, and the World Water Council.
During the inauguration, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan visited the “Regions” hub and posed for a commemorative photo with the presidents of the regional councils. He also toured the “Water and Irrigation” and “Research and Innovation” sections within the Ministry of Agriculture’s pavilion, as well as the OCP Group’s pavilion.
Further visits included the “Sponsors,” “Institutions,” “Food Industries,” “International Pole,” “Digital Agriculture,” “Nature and Environment,” “Machinery,” “Local Products,” “Livestock Inputs,” and “Livestock Farming” hubs.
The International Agriculture Show in Morocco, held at the Sahrij Souani site over an area of 12.4 hectares, features the participation of 70 countries, with France as the guest of honor. This choice reflects the strong bilateral relations and dynamic cooperation between the two nations.
This 17th edition hosts over 1,500 exhibitors and will include numerous scientific conferences and roundtables aimed at exchanging expertise and exploring concrete prospects for a more sustainable agriculture capable of addressing climate challenges, preserving the agricultural ecosystem’s balance, and ensuring sustainable food sovereignty for the country.
SIAM 2025 offers visitors a wide range of products and new-generation agricultural machinery to promote agricultural and animal production and boost key sectors of the regional economy, including food industries and related activities.
Over the years, the International Agriculture Show in Morocco has successfully positioned itself as a key event for the agricultural sector in Africa and a prominent platform for meetings and partnership opportunities among various stakeholders in the ecosystem.