His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid chaired, on Monday at Mechouar Stinia–Sahrij Souani in Meknes, the opening ceremony of the 18th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM), held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on April 20-28, under the theme "Sustainability of Animal Production and Food Sovereignty."
The inauguration of the exhibition by His Royal Highness illustrates the High Solicitude and Care shown by His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, toward the agricultural sector. It reflects the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment, under the Sovereign’s leadership, to addressing contemporary challenges related to sustainable development, climate change, and food security.
Upon his arrival at the exhibition, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid reviewed a detachment of the Auxiliary Forces that rendered honors, before being greeted by HRH Princess Sara bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Executive Director of the International Dates Council (IDC), along with the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, the Governor of the Meknes Prefecture, the President of the Meknes Prefectural Council, the President of the Meknes Municipal Council, and the President of the Mechouar Stinia municipality.
His Royal Highness was also greeted by the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Chamber of Agriculture, the Pasha of Mechouar Stinia, the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors and the sponsors of SIAM, the President of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture, the President of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER), and the Acting Commissioner General of the Exhibition.
At the beginning of the opening ceremony, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid presented labels of origin and quality to presidents of cooperatives and agricultural groups.
HRH Prince Moulay Rachid thus awarded the geographical indication "Almonds of Ghassate" to Mohamed Boussaksou, President of the Ougrour Cooperative Union of the Draa-Tafilalet region, and the appellation of origin "beldi cumin of Alnif" to Mohand Ihmadi, President of the Economic Interest Group "Alnif Tafraouet Maaider," from the Draa-Tafilalet region.
His Royal Highness also awarded Mohamed Haidach, President of the Haidach Agricultural Cooperative from the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, the geographical indication "sweet pepper of Ouled Ali Fkih Ben Saleh," and Abderrahman Labiad, President of the Association for the Origin of Olive Products of Kelâa des Sraghna and its surroundings, from the Marrakech-Safi region, the geographical indication "Extra virgin olive oil of El Kelâa des Sraghna."
Subsequently, at the entrance to the Exhibition, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid was greeted by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Portugal, the guest country of honor of this 18th edition of SIAM, and by personalities representing the invited foreign countries (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, France, The Gambia, Madagascar, Mali, Uganda, Poland, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sudan, and Turkey), as well as by the Exhibition’s development partners (the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development).
His Royal Highness then visited the Exhibition’s "Regions" section before posing for a commemorative photo with the presidents of the regional councils.
HRH Prince Moulay Rachid also visited the "Animal Production," "Food Security," and "Agricultural Advisory" areas at the pavilion of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the pavilions of the OCP Group and sponsors and institutional partners (Crédit Agricole, MAMDA, and ANCFCC), and the sections "International," "Agro-supply," "Agridigital," "Agri-food and Services," "Nature and Environment," "Machinery," "Local Products," "Livestock Inputs," and "Livestock."
Located at "Sahrij Souani" Square over an area of 37 hectares, SIAM 2026 is hosting participants from 70 countries, with Portugal as guest of honor, a choice reflecting the excellent relations between the two countries and the dynamism of their bilateral cooperation.
Building on recent themes that have highlighted the challenges of sustainability and resilience in the agricultural sector, the Exhibition will showcase achievements in the development of animal production chains in terms of animal health and welfare, sanitary safety, and the economic and zootechnical performance of livestock farming.
Since its creation, SIAM has established itself, in accordance with the High Guidelines of His Majesty the King, as a major event in the agricultural calendar at both national and international levels. It serves as a platform where decision-makers, economic actors, professionals, local stakeholders, and international partners converge.
Marking a new stage in its commitment to innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking agriculture, the 18th SIAM hosts more than 1,500 exhibitors, 500 cooperatives, 200 breeders, and 45 foreign delegations, with expected attendance exceeding 1.1 million visitors, thus confirming its status as a global hub for agriculture.
Like previous editions, SIAM 2026 aims to be a catalyst for economic development and the promotion of Morocco’s agricultural identity, in line with the High Royal Vision.
Combining technological innovation, international cooperation, and the enhancement of agricultural heritage, the Exhibition embodies the Kingdom’s ambition to build a high-performing, sustainable, and competitive agriculture on both regional and global scales.
MAP: 20 avril 2026
