Prince Moulay Rachid Presides Over the Opening of SIAM 2026 in Meknes

The opening of this Exhibition by His Royal Highness reflects the High Solicitude and Benevolence shown by His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, towards the agricultural sector, and expresses the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment, under the Sovereign’s leadership, to contemporary challenges and issues related to sustainable development, climate change and food security.

Upon his arrival at the Exhibition, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid reviewed a detachment of the Auxiliary Forces rendering honours, before being greeted by Her Royal Highness Princess Sara Bent Bandar Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, Executive Director of the International Date Council (IDC), the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Wali of the Fes–Meknes Region, the President of the Regional Council of Fes–Meknes, the Governor of the Prefecture of Meknes, the President of the Prefectural Council of Meknes, the President of the Municipal Council of Meknes, and the President of the Mechouar Stinia Municipality.

His Royal Highness was also greeted by the President of the Fes–Meknes Regional Chamber of Agriculture, the Pasha of Mechouar Stinia, the President 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, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid presented the distinctive signs of origin and quality to presidents of agricultural cooperatives and associations.

Thus, His Royal Highness presented the geographical indication “Ghassate Almonds” to Mr Mohamed Boussaksou, President of the Union of Ougrour Cooperatives in the Draa–Tafilalet Region, and the appellation of origin “Local Alnif Cumin” to Mr Mohand Ihmadi, President of the Economic Interest Group “Alnif Tafraouet Maaider,” also from the Draa–Tafilalet Region.

His Royal Highness also presented the geographical indication “Sweet Pepper Ouled Ali Fkih Ben Saleh” to Mr Mohamed Haidach, President of the Haidach Agricultural Cooperative from the Beni Mellal–Khenifra Region, and the geographical indication “Extra-Virgin Olive Oil El Kelâa des Sraghna” to Mr Abderrahman Labiad, President of the Association of Origin for Oleicultural Products of Kelâa des Sraghna and its surroundings, from the Marrakech–Safi Region.

Subsequently, at the entrance of the Exhibition, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid was greeted by the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, whose country is the guest of honour of this 18th edition of SIAM, 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 African–Asian Organisation for Rural Development and the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development).

His Royal Highness then visited the Exhibition’s “Regions” area, before posing for a commemorative photo with the presidents of the regional councils.

His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid also visited the “Animal Production,” “Food Security” and “Agricultural Advisory” spaces at the pavilion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the pavilions of the OCP Group and of sponsors and institutional partners (Crédit Agricole, MAMDA and ANCFCC), as well as the “International,” “Agro-inputs,” “Agridigital,” “Agri-food and Services,” “Nature and Environment,” “Machinery,” “Local Products,” “Livestock Inputs” and “Livestock” hubs.

Set up at Sahrij Souani Square over an area of 37 hectares, SIAM 2026 brings together participants from 70 countries, with Portugal as guest of honour — a choice that reflects the excellence of relations between the two countries and the dynamism marking bilateral cooperation.

Building on recent themes that have highlighted the challenges of sustainability and resilience in the agricultural sector, the Exhibition will shed light on the achievements in the development of animal production chains, particularly in terms of animal health and welfare, food safety, and the economic and zootechnical performance of livestock farming.

Since its creation, SIAM has established itself, in line with the High Guidelines of His Majesty the King, as a major fixture on the agricultural calendar, both nationally and internationally. It serves as a converging space where decision-makers, economic stakeholders, professionals, local actors and international partners come together.

For this 18th edition, SIAM — marking a new stage in its commitment to innovative, inclusive and forward-looking agriculture — welcomes more than 1,500 exhibitors, 500 cooperatives, 200 livestock breeders and 45 foreign delegations, with expected attendance exceeding 1.1 million visitors, thereby confirming its status as a global hub for agriculture.

As with previous editions, SIAM 2026 aims to act as a catalyst for economic development and for the promotion of Morocco’s agricultural identity, fully in line with the High Royal Vision. Through 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.