In a significant move to enhance Morocco’s agri-food industry, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mazzour officially opened a new pasteurized milk production unit in Kenitra on Friday. The groundbreaking project, which is valued at MAD 108 million ($10.8 million), was initiated by the agricultural cooperative EXTRALAIT, with the support of regional officials, local authorities, and various stakeholders in attendance.
The new unit is a part of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s contractual program aimed at developing food industries. It is expected to create 139 direct jobs and represents a substantial investment in Morocco’s agri-food sector. The project also seeks to expand EXTRALAIT’s market presence and diversify its product range by modernizing yogurt and butter production lines across the nation.
During the inauguration, Mazzour highlighted EXTRALAIT’s impressive development journey, noting that over 70 years, the cooperative has successfully united nearly 12,000 small-scale breeders through 44 cooperatives and 57 milk collection centers. He praised the breeders for their “solidarity and self-effort “in constructing a production system that meets international standards.
Mazzour emphasized that the new unit will reinforce a crucial aspect of national food sovereignty. “The establishment of this new unit will strengthen a key pillar of national food sovereignty, “he stated. Youssef Lakbida, the Director of Food Industries, echoed these sentiments, describing the project as an “important investment “that aims to increase production capacity, modernize production lines, and diversify products.
Lakbida further explained that such projects are vital for strengthening the milk production chain, which plays a pivotal role in the food system. It not only provides a stable income for thousands of farmers and cattle breeders across the country but also significantly contributes to national food security, aligning with Morocco’s national strategy.
Source: moroccoworldnews
