The export strategies of agro-food sector of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises(SMES)in Morocco

The purpose of this study is to help the decision makers in the Kingdom of Morocco to formulate an appropriate and sustainable export strategy for SMEs of Agro-food sector. Morocco is becoming an important food exporter in the Mediterranean basin. The Moroccan food industry represents more than third of Morocco's national GDP during the last decade. However, after the outsets of economic crisis and maturity of regular markets (EU) which absorb 72% of total exportation of processed vegetal products, the country is pushed to reformulate its strategies of exports. A qualitative methodology is used in this investigation, such as interviews with experts and analysis of secondary data and throughout using the experience of Turkey in this field. The findings of the analysis suggest: encouraging the establishment of agro-food industrial sites; inviting corporations and companies of agro-food industry to invest on new promising industries parallel with the mean activity; prospecting new promising countries; passing to industrialization; encouraging creation and development of agro-food SMEs business association and encouraging the intratrade between MENA countries. All these facts will lead to improve the export performance of agro-food sector. However, there still different challenges for agro-food SMEs in Morocco, such as Positioning the brand of Moroccan products in overseas markets, understanding more consumers' behaviors of different nations, which are subjects that still need to be researched by other studies in order to become one of competitive Agro-food exporters of the world. Anahtar kelimeler: Gıda sektörü, KOBĠLER Küçük ve Orta Büyüklükteki ĠĢletmeler, ihracat stratejileri, FAS