On the sidelines of the International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM) 2025, held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, Morocco and Gabon have signed a significant agreement aimed at strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the crucial area of food safety.
SIAM 2025 has brought together over 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries in Meknes, providing a platform for such strategic partnerships.
The agreement, a strategic partnership between the Casablanca Official Laboratory for Chemical Analysis and Research (LOARC) and the Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA), was signed on Wednesday in Meknes. This collaboration signifies a new step in the public health cooperation between the two African nations and aims to bolster food safety through in-depth technical and scientific collaboration.
The three-year agreement, initialed by the managing directors of both institutions – Nabil Chaouki for LOARC and Jean Delors Biyogue Bi Ntougou for AGASA – will see the Moroccan laboratory conduct comprehensive physicochemical analyses of food products and agricultural inputs destined for the Gabonese market. These analyses will be performed in accordance with current international standards to rigorously ensure the health compliance and safety of the products before they are made available to consumers in Gabon.
Nabil Chaouki of LOARC emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “This partnership will enable LOARC to provide advanced expertise to guarantee the safety of food products imported into Gabon. This is an essential lever for preventing health risks.” He further underscored the rigor of the verification process, specifying that “only foods that meet health standards will be approved for consumption.”
His Gabonese counterpart, Jean Delors Biyogue Bi Ntougou of AGASA, lauded this “structural” initiative, recognizing its potential to address existing shortcomings within Gabon’s health control system. He also highlighted the strategic dimension of the agreement, viewing it as a natural extension of the growing and strengthening bilateral ties between Libreville and Rabat. “LOARC provides us with valuable technical support to ensure the health safety of Gabonese consumers,” he affirmed.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, and the Gabonese Ambassador to Morocco, Branly Martial Oupolo, further underscoring the high-level commitment to this collaborative effort.
SIAM 2025, a prominent platform for international exchange in the agricultural sector, welcomes over 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries this year. This event serves as a key opportunity to consolidate South-South partnerships, particularly in critical areas like food safety, at a time when health and climate-related challenges necessitate enhanced cooperation between African nations to ensure the well-being of their populations and the sustainability of their agricultural systems. The Morocco-Gabon agreement stands as a testament to this growing spirit of collaboration.
MK/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA