The sixth edition of the "Haleutis" International Exhibition kicks off in Agadir

The sixth edition of the Haleutis International Fair opened on Wednesday in Agadir in the presence of the Head of Government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch.
The opening ceremony of the event, organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, was also attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, and 32 delegations from various countries, including 13 ministers from African countries.
The edition will be held from 1 to 5 February at the Agadir Exhibition Centre under the theme: "Sustainable fishing and aquaculture: a lever for an inclusive and efficient blue economy", with Spain as a guest of honor.
Organized by the Haleutis Exhibition Association, the exhibition covers an area of more than 16,000 square meters, with the participation of 337 exhibitors from actors in the field of fisheries, processing and processing of marine products and aquaculture, and is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors.
The event is an opportunity for visitors, professionals, investors, and the public to discover the professions, activities and services related to the field of fishing and aquaculture.
It also focuses on innovative technologies with high added value for the valorization and sustainable development of these chains as a structural component of the blue economy.
On this occasion, the Head of Government visited the seven exhibition poles covering the entire value chain: the institutional pole, the international pole, the transformation, valorization and operations pole, the fleet and equipment pole, the innovation pole, the sustainable development pole, and the activation pole.
In a statement to the press, Mr. Akhannouch stressed that the Haleutis International Fair contributes to the dynamism of the fishing sector, despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that the exports achieved by this sector during 2022 amounted to more than 28 billion dirhams, an increase of 16%.
For his part, Mr. Sadiki stressed that this exhibition, which comes after a halt due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, is an opportunity to showcase the latest innovations in the field of scientific research, maritime monitoring, and safety mechanisms, as well as means of valorizing marine products, promoting South-South cooperation and exchanging experiences in the field of fisheries.
On the other hand, the organizers explained that the organization of this major event reflects the importance of the fishing sector in the national economic fabric, noting that the national production of fishing products amounted to 1.55 million tons in 2022, making the Kingdom ranked first among African producers and ranked 14th globally.
National production and total exports of fishing products in 2022 increased by 10 percent and 13 percent respectively compared to 2021, despite the decision taken by the Ministry to cancel the summer octopus fishing season south of Boujdour and to apply a biological rest period in this area of more than eight months, as this decision was taken to allow the recovery of this stock, whose biomass has seen a significant decline.
This course offers a rich program of meetings and seminars with a special focus on aquaculture potential with the aim of sustainability, promoting the blue economy, and exploiting advances in science, technology, and innovation to support the sustainable development of the sector and the resilience of fisheries food production chains.
The exhibition also highlights the preparation of the next generation of scientists, ocean leaders, and future professionals to meet the challenges of the future of the blue economy.
This session is marked by its international opening through the participation of 49 countries, including 22 member states of the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in the Field of Fisheries among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT).