Moroccan exporters target Finland after recent diplomatic rapprochement

Following Finland’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the Sahara, Moroccan fruit and vegetable exporters are seizing the opportunity to enter the Finnish market and expand into other Northern European markets.

This move aligns with a recent trend in Moroccan fruit and vegetable exports, which have successfully penetrated several European markets, including Norway. Moroccan products, particularly tomatoes and peppers, saw a significant increase in Norway starting in 2020, accounting for approximately 97% of total Moroccan exports to that country that year.

Ahmed el Fal Mohamed, a representative of the Federation of Interprofessional Groups for Fruit and Vegetable Production and Export (FIFEL) in the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region, said, “We do not currently export to the Finnish market; however, we will certainly seek to capitalize on this alignment of views with Morocco and the expressed desire of both countries to strengthen trade relations to access this Scandinavian market.”

Mohamed added that Finland’s stance “facilitates the establishment of long-term trade relations in the export of fruits and vegetables,” and contributes to promoting Moroccan agricultural products throughout Europe, particularly in the north.

He told Hespress Ar that “tomatoes, which are in high demand in the European market, are among the products targeted for the Finnish market, along with peppers, watermelons, and other products with long shelf lives during transportation.” He also noted that Finland’s European Union membership, with which Morocco has partnership agreements, is an advantage for entering the Finnish market.

Riad Ouhatita, an expert in farming, explained that Moroccan fruits and vegetables have been successful in new European markets, particularly since COVID-19. “It’s only a matter of time before Moroccan products become popular in Finland too,” he said in a statement to Hespress Ar.

Ouhatita noted that Finland is a potential market for frozen red fruits, especially as Moroccan packaging units have adopted “individual quick freezing techniques” to ensure the fruits arrive fresh. He believes this gives Moroccan agricultural products an additional advantage and ensures their successful entry into various markets.