Chile and Morocco took a new step in strengthening their economic relationship, with the signing of a protocol in the field of quarantine, plant and animal health between the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and the National Office of Food Safety Safety of Morocco (ONSSA).

The agreement—developed in collaboration with the Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations, ProChile, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Chile—establishes a framework for technical cooperation and represents a first step toward opening exports of plant and animal products and their derivatives to the Moroccan market. Morocco is strategically important due to its 37 million inhabitants, growing demand for quality food, and its role as a gateway to the rest of Africa. The protocol establishes technical safeguards and high standards of sanitary and phytosanitary safety.

In this regard, the National Director of SAG, Domingo Rojas, emphasized that “the implementation of this protocol is the result of years of work and the shared commitment of both countries to continue strengthening their relations. As a Service, it provides us with a solid foundation to address common health challenges, consolidate trust between our institutions, and develop new trade opportunities that will benefit our producers and open up more possibilities for them.”

For her part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Chile, Kenza El Ghali, stated that “we value the commitment to further deepen economic cooperation between our two countries. In the long term, the complementarity between the Bi-Oceanic Road Corridor and the future Dakhla Atlantic Port, promoted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Vision, opens the opportunity to establish a maritime corridor between Morocco and Chile. This will allow us to expand and consolidate the presence of Chilean products—such as meat, nuts, and others—in the Moroccan market and project Chilean exports from the Kingdom to the African market, with its more than 1.580 billion inhabitants and rapid growth.”

The signing, which took place last Friday, comes at a time of growing trade relations between the two countries. In June, the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (SUBREI), Paula Estévez, traveled to Morocco and signed a joint declaration with her Moroccan counterpart, Omar Hejira, aimed at initiating negotiations for a potential trade agreement.

“After years of work and a shared commitment to progress, this protocol is a further step towards opening the Moroccan market to our agri-food export sector,” commented Paula Estévez, Undersecretary of International Economic Relations. She added that this market “will play a strategic role for Chile as a gateway to Africa, the only continent with which we currently lack a trade agreement. We are working to diversify markets and generate new opportunities for Chilean products worldwide, a strategy in which Morocco—where our export potential is 89%—represents precisely what we are seeking: emerging, dynamic economies with a high degree of complementarity to Chile’s.”

In parallel with the joint declaration in June, ProChile organized its first business matchmaking event in Morocco that same month. Sixteen Chilean companies exporting agricultural products, wines, and seafood participated, meeting with 30 potential buyers from Morocco and other countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The event concluded with projected business deals worth over US$16,2 million.

“We are very proud to have collaborated on the development of this protocol through our teams in Morocco and Chile,” said ProChile's Director General, Ignacio Fernández. He added, “We see a growing demand in that market for high-quality, safe, and sustainable foods like those produced by Chile. In the first half of this year, our food exports to that market exceeded US$9 million, a 14,4% increase compared to the same period last year. And when we analyze Morocco's annual imports of these types of products, we see that we have ample room to continue growing our trade.”

For his part, the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Francesco Venezian, stated that “since the beginning of President José Antonio Kast’s administration, we have worked to strengthen the competitiveness and international integration of our forestry and agricultural sector, convinced that opening new opportunities for our producers is key to the country’s development. The signing of this Protocol is a concrete step in that direction, as it strengthens sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation, creates better conditions for agri-food trade, and deepens a bilateral relationship based on trust, dialogue, and joint work.”

In addition to its domestic market, Morocco stands out for its strategic location and logistical connectivity, solidifying its position as a natural bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Infrastructure such as the port of Tangier makes it a key platform for accessing markets that encompass hundreds of millions of consumers.

Finally, the president of Frutas de Chile, Iván Marambio, while highlighting the work of the national authorities in closing this important and long-awaited agreement with Morocco, emphasized its importance in advancing phytosanitary protocols to boost exports of fresh Chilean fruit to the Moroccan market, which in turn will allow for increased shipments to the rest of the African continent.