Salon Halieutis, the biggest fisheries exhibition in Africa, brought together 450 companies from all over the globe. Organized for the seventh time this year, the exhibition took place in Agadir (Kingdom of Morocco), on 5–9 February.
The Russian national display area at the centre of pavilion B involved major fishing industry companies from the country’s North and Far East, as well as shipbuilding and logistics enterprises. Companies such as NOREBO, Sigma Marine Technology, FOR Group, Magadanryba (Magadanpromflot), Murman and Pacific Fish Resources presented their fish products in display cases featuring Pacific salmon and saffron cod, sardines, scad, mackerel, herring, shrimp, etc., including by-catch species and fish oil.
Fishering Service, a regular exhibition participant, presented its services, which include manufacturing and maintenance of mid-water and bottom trawls, and this year’s newcomer, Forss Technologies, spoke about ship design, technology transfer and onboarding in shipbuilding. In addition to the presentations at its booth, Dalreftrans held a number of meetings with the authorities and operators of Morocco’s major ports of Tangier, Casablanca and Agadir.
VNIRO contributed to showcasing Russia’s manufacturing enterprises. The Institute’s executives told experts and exhibition visitors about the Great African Expedition of the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery, including its first findings, future plans and cooperation prospects.
Ilya Shestakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, was in charge of the Russian delegation. He took part in the opening ceremony and met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch during the formal walkabout of the exhibition. He also had talks with Ms. Zakia Driouich, Secretary General, Department of Marine Fisheries of Morocco, and the delegation from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
In addition, the Russian delegation met with Sidi Tiemoko Touré, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the current chair of COMHAFAT/ATLAFCO (Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Fisheries Among the African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean).
One area of the Russian pavilion was also dedicated for business talks. On 6 February, representatives of Sigma Marine Technology discussed unlocking export potential with Hassan Sentissi, President of FENIP (Kingdom of Morocco’s National Federation for Fish Processing and Fisheries Industry Development).
The appeal and success of the Russian national pavilion at the exhibition was acknowledged by the event organizers’ award for the Best Stand. A commitment to enhance cooperation between the Russian fishing industry and Moroccan fisheries businesses through active engagement in Seafood Expo Russia 2025 was yet another accomplishment at the exhibition.
“The number of exhibitors at our joint exhibition stand has tripled. This growth of our display, which occupies 250 square metres this year, is a robust reflection of the pace of expanding ties with Africa. The continent’s demand for fish and seafood is growing, making local markets even more appealing to Russian fishing companies seeking new export destinations. Dialogue between the countries is yet another way to boost this appeal.
The Russian exhibition of fish products and technologies was extremely popular with visitors so we believe our participation was a great success. It is now our turn to welcome new exhibitors from Morocco and other African countries at Seafood Expo Russia, which will be held this year in St. Petersburg on 22–24 October,” Ivan Fetisov, CEO of Expo Solutions Group, organizer of the Russian national pavilion at the exhibition in Morocco and other overseas events focusing on the fisheries industry.