The UAE’s Minister of State for Food Security has held a series of meetings with food producers, agricultural experts and government officials during a visit to India.
Mariam Almheiri’s visit to India aims to strike alliances and forge relationships that will guarantee food supplies for the UAE, with the trip forming part of the UAE government’s drive to ensure strong and reliable food supply chains.
The visit is part of the country’s ambition to move from its current position as 31st most food secure nation to number one by the year 2051.
Accompanying Almheiri on the trip was Dr Ahmed AlBanna, UAE Ambassador to India and Ahmad AlFalahi, UAE Commercial Attaché to India.
The two-day excursion saw the minister meet with Indian government officials and private industry owners to enhance the capacity of India as a food security partner for the UAE, not just in terms of supplying the necessary volume of food, but as a dependable long-term partner that can work with the UAE to better serve its food basket.
“The UAE and India’s relationship is both strong and historic, stretching back over thousands of years of bi-lateral trade, commerce and people movement. This trip builds on this solid foundation and creates new synergies in the food security sector, with vital topics addressed including knowledge sharing, agricultural technology student exchange, R&D cooperation, collaboration on closed farming methods and ensuring that Indian produce meets UAE requirements,” she said.
She added: “Other areas of discussion during my visit included the promotion of high nutrient foods, organic and quinoa farming, the reduction of food waste and sharing best practices between UAE and Indian farmers. We also struck agreements on the importance of being prepared for emergency food situations and having a two-way open channel for investment in both countries, with the objective of mutually fulfilling food security requirements.”
Follow us on
