A Moroccan delegation visits Ireland to discuss potential agri-food cooperation

A Moroccan delegation presided by Hammou Ouhelli, Secretary of State for Rural Development, is on a business trip to Ireland in order to visit a number of state bodies, the Independent Ireland reports.

According to the same source, the Seceretary of State is accompanied with senior officials from the ONSSA (office national de securité sanitaire et des produits alimentaires) and ADA (Agence pour le developpement agricole).

The Moroccan delegation had the chance during this visit to hold talks with the Irish Sustainable Food Systems, an international consultancy group of consortium of five Irish government organizations led by the Irish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,  to discuss potential cooperation.

«This visit follows on from the successful Trade Mission to Morocco, lead by Minister Creed last November», the same source adds recalling last year's visit when the Irish Minister of Agriculture, Michael Creed stayed in Morocco for three days to raise the profile of Irish agri-food sector.

«Agri-food exports from Ireland to Morocco in 2015 continued to grow. They have now almost doubled from around €8m in 2013 to almost €14.5m in 2015», concluded the same source.