Abu Dhabi: UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Board of Trustees, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan recently unveiled the International Network for Sustainable Development of Date Palm in Near East and North Africa.
The Network was launched at the 14th Khalifa International Award for Date Palm Winners Honoring Ceremony organized at Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
The award was held in cooperation with major international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Land, the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, and Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East & North Africa.
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF DATE PALM
The newly launched Network is expected to encourage the date palm cultivation sector in producing countries to enhance food security, economic growth and sustainable development.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Award’s Secretary-General, highlighted that the newly unveiled Network is the largest international cooperation, aimed towards the development of the date palm cultivation sector in the world.
The Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation General Secretariat will coordinate the Network’s workflow with the respected members.
The Network’s vision and message aim to promote sustainable development of date palm cultivation and related industries in the Near East and North Africa region through collective efforts and partnerships of member organizations with all concerned partners regionally and internationally.
The Initiative will also strive to unite the efforts of member organizations to develop programs/projects with concerned countries, raise the necessary funds, and provide technical assistance for the implementation of the selected projects.
The Network attempts to increase technical cooperation among all date producing countries in the Near East and North African region in aspects related to the development of the date palm cultivation industry.
It also aims to mobilize the collective efforts of member organizations towards achieving food self-sufficiency, enhancing the quality of life, maintaining the ecosystem and natural resources, and developing the date palm cultivation industry.