Morocco is stepping onto the global stage at the 2025 edition of “World Food India,” an international event focused on food innovation, processing technologies, and sustainable practices, which officially opened Thursday evening in New Delhi. The Kingdom’s presence signals not only its growing ambitions in the agri-food sector, but also its strategic intent to deepen trade ties with India and expand its footprint in Asia.
Leading the Moroccan delegation is Omar Hejira, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, accompanied by senior private-sector representatives, key figures from national industry federations, and Morocco’s ambassador to India, Mohamed Maliki. The theme for this year’s summit—“Transformation for Prosperity”—sets the tone for an event that brings together more than 90 countries and nearly 2,000 exhibitors, all eager to showcase their products, share innovations, and explore investment opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic food markets.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Hejira emphasized that Morocco’s participation aligns with the strategic vision laid out by King Mohammed VI to diversify the Kingdom’s international partnerships, with a particular emphasis on India as a high-priority economic ally. He also noted that this engagement fits within the framework of the new 2025–2027 external trade strategy, which aims to boost Morocco’s trade with Asia and identify new areas of synergy in key industries.
Currently, trade between Morocco and India stands at around $3 billion. While that figure may seem substantial, Hejira pointed out that it doesn’t reflect the true potential of bilateral cooperation. According to available data, an estimated $1.4 billion in untapped trade opportunities remains on the table—highlighting the need for greater diversification and a stronger structural balance in economic exchanges.
During the summit, Hejira held a series of high-level meetings, including talks with Chirag Paswan, India’s Minister of Food Processing Industries, and Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). His conversation with Paswan focused on activating underutilized areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly through the expansion of trade and mutual expertise-sharing between businesses from both nations. The two officials agreed to establish a joint task force dedicated to agro-industry, with plans to formalize this collaboration through upcoming agreements.
In his meeting with FICCI’s president, Hejira called for a stronger economic partnership and urged Indian businesses to explore the growing investment opportunities Morocco offers. He also extended an invitation to Agarwal to attend the upcoming Morocco-India Business Forum, set for early 2026, and proposed the creation of a bilateral working group to identify promising sectors, encourage participation in major trade events, and shape the future of economic collaboration between the two countries.
Running until September 28, this year’s “World Food India” offers a packed schedule of conferences, B2B meetings, and industry panels. The event serves as a global showcase for the latest in food-sector innovation and provides a powerful platform for nations like Morocco to forge new partnerships and expand their influence in one of the world’s fastest-evolving markets.
