Freight and export professionals are gearing up for an escalation in the coming days, almost two weeks after the government’s decision to stop exporting certain vegetables to African markets, attributing this to a “lack” of social dialogue with major players in the sectors involved. solution.
The Moroccan Association of Exporters of Various Commodities to Africa and Abroad, together with the National Syndicate Bureau of Owners and Drivers of Trucks Carrying Goods for Third Parties in Morocco (Moroccan Trade Union Trade Union), have announced their intention to cease all export activities related to vegetables. if a compromise solution is not reached within the next 24 hours.
In a joint statement, both sides denounced the “exclusion” from the dialogue within the participatory approach envisaged in the constitution, as they condemned “individual and unfair decisions” aimed at a permanent suspension of exports instead of a “middle solution”, which prompted them to threaten to move to unprecedented forms struggle.
And the same document pointed out that “the opening of African markets occurred as a result of the individual efforts of merchants who challenged the difficulties of exporting to Africa, from infrastructural and weather factors, as well as plots by enemies and opponents of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom”, adding that “King Mohammed’s perception VI openness to the Kingdom’s African depth has motivated professionals to challenge these divisions.”
The Moroccan Association of Exporters of Various Goods to Africa and Abroad and the National Syndicate Office of Owners and Drivers of Trucks Carrying Goods for Third Parties in Morocco have indicated that “traders, transport owners and drivers are not responsible for the causes and factors that led to the lack of production “, and “they will not agree that exporting to Africa is a short wall that is attached to it when managing stages.
The two bodies brought to light the reality of the problems professionals are grappling with in the wake of the government’s decision, including “traders’ inability to collect remaining money from customers in African markets” and “truck owners’ inability to pay back outstanding debts they owe.” ”
In a joint statement, it was confirmed that “professionals have engaged in a serious and responsible dialogue on the crisis as they have worked hard to get out of it by presenting their proposals related to maintaining food security and social peace in the Kingdom of Morocco”, indicating at the same time their surprise at being “excluded from dialogue rounds”.
Mohamed Zamrani, Acting President of the Moroccan Association of Exporters of Various Commodities to Africa and Abroad, stated that “The Ministry of Agriculture promised professionals to resolve the crisis after the formation of a committee led by the Secretary General to study the market situation, but two weeks have passed since then, and the merchants have not been contacted.”
Al-Zamrani explained in an interview with Hespress that “the sector is mired in a spiral of financial problems resulting from the suspension of exports”, stressing that “this decision is unfair and unwise, as it is contrary to the instructions of the king, which is open to African countries, especially since that a recent visit to Gabon was devoted to food security in the degree of “Foundation”.
The same specialist emphasized that “the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture threatens food security on the African continent, which could affect the diplomatic relations that bring Morocco closer to friendly African countries”, calling for “the ban decision to be reversed and limited initially to a certain percentage, which is not exceeds 20 percent of exports until sufficiency is achieved.”
