The Moroccan fruit and vegetable trade mission to Singapore has concluded, with shipments of Moroccan produce being prepared for Asian clients. "On April 22 in Singapore, the first preliminary agreements to supply blueberries, cherry tomatoes, renowned Moroccan Nadrocot mandarins, and melons from Morocco were concluded. More deals are expected soon as Moroccan companies follow up with buyers, but several shipments are already being prepared. These rapid results stem from six months of dedicated efforts by the FAO team, our international consultants, and Morocco's FoodEx," stated Andriy Yarmak, Project Leader and Economist at the FAO Investment Centre.
Morocco is positioning itself as a trusted supplier to Southeast Asia, with the Morocco Fruit & Vegetable Trade Mission to Singapore and Malaysia being a step in this direction. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in partnership with FoodEx, the mission aims to strengthen trade ties and promote sustainable partnerships.
Six Moroccan exporters engaged in B2B meetings with 12 Singaporean importers of fresh produce. A subsequent round of meetings is scheduled for April 24 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "There is real value in face-to-face meetings, especially when aiming to build long-term, sustainable partnerships," noted Nandi Odendal, Sales and Marketing Specialist at Crownfruit PTE, a leading importer headquartered in Singapore.
Moroccan exporters were selected and trained to ensure success in meetings. The team identified 12 leading Singaporean fresh produce buyers and developed a structured B2B meeting format. "It seems that this was a perfect match," said Yevhen Kuzin, Horticulture Market Analyst at the FAO Investment Centre. "Exporters from Morocco and importers from Singapore share similar values — a commitment to quality, a diverse and unique product offering, and sustainability."
Feedback from importers was positive, with enthusiasm for increasing purchases of Moroccan berries and mandarins and making direct deals for cherry tomatoes, melons, and possibly avocados. "I am very satisfied with the quality of discussions today. Our efforts to prepare for this mission have clearly paid off," said Idriss El Honsali of FoodEx Morocco.
During the event, Andriy Yarmak highlighted Morocco's performance and export potential in the fresh produce sector. Morocco focuses on quality and sustainability, confirmed by years of successful exports to destinations like the EU, Canada, the USA, and Japan. It is among the top three fastest-growing fresh produce exporters globally, a leader in cherry tomato exports, and the second-largest net exporter of fresh tomatoes. Morocco is also a leader in premium mandarins and the third-largest exporter of fresh blueberries, already among the top suppliers to Singapore and Malaysia. The country offers a broad portfolio of high-value products, including seasonally aligned easy peelers suitable for Lunar New Year markets.
Source: EastFruit