The British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has called on the United Kingdom to develop a “key trading relationship” with Morocco based on the results of a research study it conducted showing dramatically increasing British demand for Moroccan produce, reported “Food & Drink International” on Monday.
The Group published its study in conjunction with a bilateral Agriculture Review and discovered that the UK and its consumers increasingly benefit from a consistent, high-quality supply of fresh produce from Morocco, which helps to keep Britain’s supermarket shelves stocked throughout the year.
Moroccan fruit and vegetable imports have nearly quadrupled from 2018, going from 158 million pounds in 2018 to 408 million pounds in 2022.
Moroccan imports are becoming increasingly important in supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to UK consumers over the winter months, with Q1 2023 imports totaling 168 million pounds, nearly double Q1 2018 (60 million pounds).
The APPG recommended five things to develop the British-Moroccan agricultural relationship. First, gain a better understanding of the mutual benefits derived from UK-Morocco agriculture trade; second, the UK Government should develop and publish an annual trade impact report; third, it should appoint a new Trade Envoy to Morocco; fourth, Agriculture Reviews should be routinized; and fifth, Britain should establish preferred buyer status within the Moroccan market and raise awareness of the business opportunity provided by UK-Morocco trade.
Member of Parliament and Chair of the APPG on Morocco Heather Wheeler, OBE, commented on the report saying, “Agriculture trade is crucial for both our countries, keeping British families well fed with affordable, secure produce and helping economic development in Morocco.”
Abir Lemseffer of the Moroccan employers’ association, the Confederation Generale Des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM), welcomed the idea. “Trade with the UK has brought enormous economic and social benefits to the people of Morocco,” she said, “especially in the Sahara region, where much fresh produce is grown.”