Special exhibition stands offered visitors the opportunity to discover traditional Moroccan handicrafts and embroidery on jellabas and caftans, while sampling authentic Moroccan pastries and dishes. The objective was to reflect the age-old heritage of a nation that is proud of its history and works to protect and renew its memory.

Members of the Moroccan community in Geneva and from other Swiss cities responded to the invitation of the "Damane" association, an organization that supports the initiatives of Moroccans living abroad, turning the event into a celebration of the sense of belonging to Morocco and an opportunity to pass on Moroccan values, traditions, and art de vivre from one generation to the next.

The involvement of third-generation migrant children in the festivities illustrated the deep-rooted values of Moroccan citizenship, despite the distance. 

Swiss guests expressed their delight at enriching their previous stays in Morocco with additional knowledge about a culture of which they appreciated first-hand the diversity and openness to others. Other foreign visitors danced to the rhythm of popular music while discovering Moroccan wedding customs.

"This Moroccan cultural fair serves as a showcase for our heritage, highlighting the Kingdom's cultural and artistic richness in a family-friendly setting," Ichrak Bennani, president of the Association, told MAP.

"In a context of globalization, it is imperative that we maintain our link with our roots and share our cultural heritage with future generations," she said, adding that the cultural fair had "responded to this need".

Besides promoting Moroccan culture and supporting the Kingdom's artisans, the fair offers a space conducive to marketing, networking, and the exchange of know-how, she stated.

According to Ms. Bennani, 90% of exhibitors were women entrepreneurs, in line with the objectives of the "Damane" association, a Geneva-based organization recently founded to support entrepreneurs and initiatives of Moroccan origin.

For their part, members of the Moroccan community welcomed the initiative while expressing the wish to see this type of meeting multiplied in order to strengthen the cohesion of Moroccans in Switzerland and facilitate collective mobilization in the service of Morocco's interests and cultural influence.