Rédaction Africa Links 24 with A. CHANNAJE
Published on 2024-03-08 21:36:00
The President of ASMEX, Hassan Sentissi El Idrissi, accompanied by Abid Kabadi, President of the Morocco-Canada Club, and Sonia Mezzour, President of the Financing, Insurance, and Monitoring Commission, received Isabelle Valois, Ambassador of Canada to Morocco on March 7, as announced in a press release by the association.
During this meeting, the representatives of ASMEX emphasized the importance of the Canadian market for Moroccan exporters who continue to show great interest in it. However, commercial exchanges between the two countries remain below the potential that exists and has yet to be fully exploited, the press release points out.
In this context, the press release continues, a Morocco-Canada Club was created in 2017 by ASMEX to raise awareness among Moroccan operators about the opportunities available, support and guide them to better position themselves in this market, as the same source recalls.
The signing of a partnership agreement with the Canadian government agency responsible for Foreign Trade, Investment, and Trade Sustainability (TFO Canada) in 2021 has strengthened ASMEX’s action plan towards the Canadian market as it has supported a population of Moroccan businesses and cooperatives led by women to develop their exports in this important North American market, the press release indicates.
The partnership with TFO Canada was materialized through various activities, including training and skills development sessions on all aspects of international trade for businesses and cooperatives from several regions of Morocco; participation in SIAL Montreal in 2022 and SIAL Toronto in 2023; a Canadian buyers mission to Morocco resulting in orders being placed for several Moroccan products and interest in new products; and web conferences on the development of Moroccan franchises in Canada and mastering standards.
Furthermore, ASMEX representatives expressed their desire to sustain the partnership with TFO Canada and expand the scope to new entities interested in the Canadian market and new product niches.
Investment Charter: a favorable system for foreign companies
The representatives of the Canadian Embassy were also briefed on the opportunities available to Canadian companies in African markets following the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Relocating their production to Morocco could open up avenues for them to benefit from the tariff preferences provided by the agreement. Similarly, the new investment charter enacted by Morocco offers several incentives for foreign companies wishing to invest in the country.
Supporting mastering distribution channels in Canada, strengthening promotional activities, and facilitating meetings between Moroccan exporters and Canadian buyers should also help increase the level of exchanges between the two countries.
In this context, the Canadian Ambassador was asked to support ASMEX in concluding new agreements with other Canadian entrepreneurship support programs and developing actions that align with sustainability objectives to have a direct impact on creating meaningful and permanent employment and enhancing the capabilities of small structures from various regions of Morocco to be competitive in the Canadian market.
Finally, ASMEX expressed its desire to conclude a partnership agreement between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (IMANOR), and other partners to support Moroccan companies interested in the Canadian market in terms of standardization.
Read the original article(French) on L’Opinion
