Meeting in Rabat between the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests and the Secretary General of the CIHEAM
Rabat, Morocco, 30 January 2024
The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mr Mohammed Sadiki, received the Secretary General of CIHEAM, Mr Teodoro Miano, at the Ministry on Tuesday 30 January 2024 in Rabat (Morocco). With the aim of strengthening the partnership with Moroccan institutions, the Secretary General of CIHEAM visited the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV). During this visit, future opportunities for cooperation were identified.
The Kingdom of Morocco will host the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting
The aim of this high-level meeting, which is highly expected at a time of crisis in the Mediterranean, is to place food issues at the centre of regional dialogue and cooperation, especially to develop joint solutions for more resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems.
After sharing views on the agricultural, food and climate challenges, including the historic drought in Morocco, Minister Sadiki and Mr Teodoro Miano discussed the organisation of the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting, which will be held in the Kingdom later this year.
Minister Sadiki, who made a major contribution to the development of the CIHEAM as Delegate of Morocco delegate and then as President of the Governing Board, expressed his deep satisfaction with this important initiative and stressed the importance of working together to address common challenges and promote food security in the Mediterranean region.
The Secretary General of the CIHEAM expressed the hope that this Ministerial Meeting would serve as a reminder of the extent to which the Mediterranean is an exceptional laboratory for sustainable and innovative practices in agriculture, fisheries, livestock farming and, of course, food production, which must be supported, particularly through scientific cooperation and technical assistance.
Visit of Hassan II IAV
Earlier during the day, Mr Teodoro Miano visited the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, accompanied by Mr Bilal Hajjouji, Director of Agricultural Education, Training and Research (DEFR) and the Delegate of Morocco to the CIHEAM, Mr Abdelaziz El Hraiki, Director of the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV), and Ms Lamia Ghaouti, Head of the Cooperation, Partnerships and Research Department at the IAV and former President of the CIHEAM Advisory Board from 2021 to 2023.
Founded in 1966, this Moroccan school for engineers and veterinary surgeons is considered a leading institution in the field of natural sciences through its integrated training, research and development activities. Since its establishment, the Institute has developed into a polytechnic centre for multidisciplinary expertise and has expanded its national, regional and international outreach.
Avenues for cooperation between the CIHEAM and the Hassan II IAV were discussed in the field of initial training, with joint-diplomas between CIHEAM and IAV Hassan II institutions, continuing training, exchanges of students and lecturer-researchers, as well as closer cooperation in common research and development projects.
At the end of the meeting, the Director of the IAV Hassan II Institute awarded the CIHEAM with a medal symbolising the historic collaboration between the IAV Hassan II Institute and the CIHEAM.
