The U.S. Embassy asserts that the exploratory visit to Morocco will be the largest mission of its kind in Africa.
The United States is set to strengthen its presence in the African agribusiness sector, with a particular focus on Morocco. This economic outreach will take the form of an unprecedented initiative: the first-ever agribusiness trade mission organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Morocco, scheduled for December 2 to 5, 2024.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, this event, the most ambitious ever undertaken by Washington in Africa in this field, aims to boost trade between the two countries while leveraging Morocco’s strategic position as a gateway to the entire African continent.
The mission will bring together an impressive delegation, including 26 U.S. agribusiness companies, 21 agricultural cooperative leaders, and representatives from 14 state agricultural departments. These delegates will engage in discussions and business meetings with Moroccan buyers and economic operators from West Africa, particularly from Ivory Coast, Senegal, and The Gambia.
The event will provide participants the opportunity to explore the latest trends in food consumption, assess Moroccan market dynamics, and discover opportunities in regional markets.
Daniel Whitley, Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service and leader of this mission, stated that this initiative presents a “crucial opportunity for American agribusiness companies to establish themselves in the dynamic Moroccan market, while also benefiting from its strategic role as a hub to the rest of Africa.”
He also emphasized his commitment to forging key connections to boost U.S. agricultural exports to this rapidly growing region.
Puneet Talwar, the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, praised the significance of this mission, which underscores the strength of the Moroccan-American partnership. In a statement, he highlighted the values of cooperation, innovation, sustainability, and inclusion that guide this event.
“By promoting trade and collaboration, this initiative aims to enhance food security, address global challenges like climate change, and recognize the central role of women in the evolution of global agriculture,” said Ambassador Talwar.
Morocco and the United States maintain close commercial ties, bolstered by a free trade agreement that came into effect in 2006. Since then, agricultural trade between the two nations has seen significant growth. According to the U.S. Embassy, Moroccan agricultural exports to the U.S. market have nearly tripled, while U.S. agricultural exports to Morocco have doubled.
In 2023, Morocco emerged as the second-largest market for U.S. agricultural products in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching $900 million, underscoring Morocco’s strategic importance in U.S. economic policy towards Africa.
In addition to trade discussions, this mission will serve as a platform to address common challenges, including the impact of climate change on agriculture, the promotion of sustainable practices, and the improvement of food security.
