Date: 20 Mar, 2023
As part of AAAID’s keenness to increase and develop its agricultural investments in the Arab world, as well as review future cooperation avenues in projects that serve common interests and support the sustainable agricultural development goals, a visit was recently made by H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Obaid Al Mazrooei, President of AAAID, and his accompanying delegation to the Syrian Arab Republic. Additionally, H.E. AAAID’s President met with H.E. Dr. Nasr El Din Al Obeid, Director General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), on March 18, 2023 at the organization’s HQ, and in the presence of a number of department managers.
Nevertheless, H.E. AAAID’s President briefly introduced AAAID, its activities, investments in the Arab countries, and projects in the Syrian Arab Republic in particular, which include the Arab Company for the Manufacturing of Advanced Irrigation Equipment (MAIE), the Syrian Arab Company for the Development of Agricultural Products (Gadak), and Al-Ahliah Vegetable Oil Company.
For his part, H.E. Director General of ACSAD welcomed and thanked H.E. AAAID’s President and the accompanying delegation for their visit, which comes as part of strengthening cooperation between both parties. The delegation was briefed about ACSAD’s work and the implemented research programs in the plant and livestock fields, in addition to the training centers that are equipped with modern training tools. Moreover, the delegation was also taken on a field trip to review the artificial insemination and embryo transfer laboratories, and experimental fields of Arab production efficiency of wheat and barley, in which improved varieties are developed, as well as fields of fruit trees and production nurseries of olive, pistachio and almond plants, which also provide Arab countries with their needs of cuttings and improved plants.
At the end of the visit, H.E. AAAID’s President expressed his great gratitude for ACSAD Center and the efforts made by its management, researchers, and employees as a distinguished Arab house of expertise, which manifested its applied scientific research and its results in developing Arab agriculture, achieving Arab sustainable development, and Arab food and water security. He also pointed out the important and effective role played by ACSAD in encouraging cooperation among Arab countries in common issues and challenges related to agriculture and food security, capacity-building, and provision of technical support, as well as all new data on agriculture, food, and sustainable agricultural development.
Furthermore, H.E. AAAID’s President and the accompanying delegation praised the scientific and research level achieved by ACSAD in the pilot area of Izra, as well as its recent leading role in developing research programs in the genetic origins field, both livestock and plant, to be distributed to all Arab countries for dryland development, biological and mechanical sand-dune stabilization, and all other fields in which it operates; in particular, the rehabilitation of Arab technical personnel by raising their scientific credibility to be professionally prepared.
Last but not least, a joint memorandum of understanding was signed between AAAID and ACSAD, which is aimed at strengthening the ties of cooperation in common areas between both parties, in order to achieve higher effectiveness and proper implementation of their activities; lastly, commemorative shields were exchanged between both sides.
