Event

Berlin, 20 October 2016 - See, smell, touch, taste and hear: all the senses are needed in order to experience Morocco properly. And visitors to the International Green Week Berlin 2016 (15-24 Jan.) will be able to make full use of their five senses in Hall 18, where the partner country Morocco will be welcoming visitors to its pavilion with exotic scents, typical local delicacies, traditional music and images of various Moroccan landscapes. The hosts will be presenting regional products in all their diversity – from hand-pressed argan oil to such organic products as henna and saffron, and rose water. All these items are proof of a rich and varied agriculture and a wealth of experience that has been acquired over the centuries. Morocco is the first non-European partner country in the 90-year history of the Green Week.

High-quality products

More than 45 per cent of the Moroccan population are engaged in agriculture, which is a combination of traditional and, in some cases, archaic methods and also of highly export-oriented cultivation. Companies have adapted their production, packaging and exports to meet international standards, guaranteeing excellent quality. The agricultural industry is mainly concentrated along the coast and in the valleys around Marrakech and Fès, with the emphasis on cultivating citrus fruits and vegetables for export.

Giving a boost to modernisation in the agricultural sector

"Morocco's intensive involvement in the Green Week 2016 is part of the 'Plan Maroc Vert' – a concept aimed at modernising and encouraging the development of the agricultural sector", explains Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Ocean Fisheries of the Kingdom of Morocco. Morocco has already undergone a remarkable process of modernisation following the launch of the "green plan" in 2008. The objective is to mobilise some 13 billion euros by 2020 in order to achieve even greater professionalisation of the agricultural sector and to establish a modern processing industry. This in turn will help to create more employment and assist in the development of rural areas.

Moroccan pavilion offers a picture of all the regions

In 1960 Morocco was the first country on the African continent to take part in the Green Week, and this year it is participating for the 49th time with a sumptuous display of regional products. The four distinct areas of the country, typified by the coast, the forests, the desert and the mountains, are reflected by the architecture, decor and layout of the stands in the Moroccan pavilion.

Each region has its own particular attractions. Morocco has its royal cities of Marrakech, Fès, Rabat and Meknès. Visitors can immerse themselves in another world of imposing historic buildings, gardens and palm groves. But Morocco is also renowned for landscapes of unparalleled diversity, with endless sandy beaches, national parks with forests of cedars and oaks, dunes and snow-covered mountains.

But one needs time in order to discover all the different aspects of Morocco, time for the people, their culture and their traditions. And time is the most important aspect of the traditional tea ceremony. The legendary mint tea is more than just a thirst quencher, it is part of the culture. It is used to welcome guests, conduct business and celebrate weddings. In addition to mint tea visitors to the trade show can also enjoy such typically Moroccan dishes as tajines and couscous. There are countless different types of tajines: with lamb, mutton or beef, sweet-and-savoury with prunes, or vegetarian. Fresh fish is served along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Morocco - bream, squid, swordfish and prawns. Spices are a major ingredient in all dishes, especially cinnamon, caraway, black pepper, ginger, sesame, mint and saffron. Morocco's cuisine is as diverse as the country itself. During the Green Week the country of "1,000 and one nights" is within touching distance, in Hall 18 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Information about trade:

Agriculture is a vital economic sector in the Kingdom of Morocco, accounting for 15 per cent of the gross national product. Strong trading links exist between Germany and Morocco. Morocco is an important trading partner, especially as a supplier of vegetables, fish and citrus fruits. In 2014 Germany imported agricultural products with a value of 221 million euros, compared with the agricultural produce worth 279 million euros that was exported by Germany to Morocco. The EU as a whole is by far the largest trading partner of the north African country and buys more than half of all Moroccan exports.

Photo material about the partner country Morocco:

www.gruenewoche.com / Press / Photos / Category "Morocco Partner Country IGW 2016".

Press contact for the partner country Morocco:

Genius GmbH – Wissenschaft und Kommunikation

Krizia Schroeder, Robert-Bosch-Str. 7, 64293 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 (0)6151 62 723 42, Fax: +49 (0)6151 62 723 01

Email: krizia.schroeder@genius.de