Within the framework of the development plans, the UAE has placed the development of the date production industry as one of its important priorities. There have been continuous efforts to increase agricultural productivity and to utilize all the available resources under the leadership of His Highness, the President, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (God protects him). Under this effort, the following MoU was signed.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the United States of Mexico and the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation signed an MoU for the organization of the First Mexico International Date Palm Festival from November 9th to November 13th, 2022. The signing ceremony took place virtually in the presence of the UAE Ambassador to Mexico, Mr. Ahmed AI Menhali; the Ambassador of Mexico to the UAE, Luis Alfonso Garcia de Alba; the General Coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Mexico, Santiago Arguello Campos; and the Secretary General of the Khalifa Award, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid.
The attendees were welcomed by Santiago Arguello Campos while appreciating the efforts made by the United Arab Emirates and the immense support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, towards the development of the date palm sector and the production, processing, and marketing of dates at the regional, national, and international levels.
Ambassador Al Menhali pointed out the importance of collaboration between the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation and the Ministry of Agriculture of Mexico in arranging the First International Mexico Date Palm Festival. It has been aimed at developing this promising sector to achieve the goals and visions of the two friendly countries.
Moreover, Ambassador Luis Alfonso García de Alba welcomed and appreciated the pioneering position that the United Arab Emirates has achieved in the sphere of date palm cultivation and date palm production at the regional, national, and global levels. It is the significance of the sector that helps in fostering bridges of collaboration to ameliorate food security and attain sustainable development.
For his part, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary-General of the Award, explained that the MoU comes to confirm the international credibility of the award and also thanked the guidance and support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, which was followed-up by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees. This platform was considered the most significant international platform for establishing partnerships related to the effortless development of the date palm cultivation and date production sector in the regional, national, and international domains.
