Agri Water 4.0: Said Dour Calls for a Flexible and Innovative Regional Economy in Response to Water Challenges
During the opening of the International Forum “Agri Water 4.0,” held in Agadir on Tuesday, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Souss-Massa region, Said Dour, emphasized the need to transform water resource management into a true driver of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability for Morocco’s agricultural industries.
In his speech, Dour praised the professionalism of the organizers, including the “Agri Water” association, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, the Souss-Massa Regional Council, and the magazine “Industrie du Maroc,” which he described as a “citizen institution.”
Dour reminded attendees that the Souss-Massa region is today one of the Kingdom’s economic engines, due to its substantial contribution to national agricultural and food production, supported by a robust network of innovative and export-oriented businesses. However, he warned that the region faces significant challenges related to water scarcity, directly resulting from climate change and the over-exploitation of resources.
As a representative of a public institution dedicated to supporting businesses, Dour affirmed that the Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting the transition towards a more resilient and sustainable economy, highlighting two key areas in this framework:
- Raising awareness among economic actors about the importance of water management, optimizing its use, and achieving energy efficiency.
- Enhancing cooperation between businesses, researchers, start-ups, and investors to develop innovative local solutions.
He noted that the success of this transformation requires a strong partnership between the public and private sectors within a coordinated regional cooperation framework.
Dour expressed pride in establishing the Souss-Massa Agricultural Innovation Cluster, which he described as a “cooperative framework bringing together public and private stakeholders around projects that rely on digital technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and precision irrigation.”
He affirmed that this cluster serves as a strategic lever to accelerate the transformation of the regional agricultural model towards greater competitiveness and sustainability.
