Date: 16 Nov, 2015
His Excellency Mohamed Bin Obaid Al-Mazrooei , President of AAAID participated in the 17th Conference for Arab Businessmen and Investors that was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE on the 16th and 17th of November 2015. The Conference was held under the Auspices of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates under the theme ‘’Investment in Entrepreneurship and Innovation’’. The conference was organized by the Arab Institution for Investment Guarantee and Export Credit, Abu Dhabi Chamber, the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates.
AAAID was an active participant in the discussions related the conference events and H.E President of AAAID met with a number of Arab businessmen and investors to discuss matters of Agricultural Investment. His Excellency’s distinguished participation was in the 2nd discussion panel which revolved around Pioneering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the fields on Agriculture, Industry and Energy. Mr.AlMzarooei presented a detailed explanation of AAAID’s activities in the Agricultural Investment Sector explaining that it owned 32 companies across its member states. He further stated that AAAID’s investments were distributed across 4 main sectors which were Agricultural Production, Animal Production, Vegetable Production and Agricultural Services. Mr.Al Mazrooei also stated that AAAID used advanced technologies explaining that its companies have strived to introduce innovative products and techniques such as zero-tillage agricultural systems, precision farming and smart farming. In addition, AAAID has launched Omega 3 infused milk and Super Milk through one of its companies that contains Vitamins E and D to address vitamin deficiency issues in the region. His Excellency also explained that the organization was also exploring Cell bursting technology to further enhance its innovative approach to agricultural investment.
Addressing AAAID’s Corporate Social Responsibility, His Excellency explained that the organization’s agricultural investment activities provided around 11,649 employment opportunities out of which 10,127 were direct and 1,522 being indirect. Examples of indirect employment included seasonal labour and contractual farmers as in the case of Faiyuum Sugar Works Company in Egypt, the Arab Cooperative Company (Aseer) and Marga Livestock and Agricultural Development Company in Morocco.
His Excellency expressed AAAID’s commitment to sustainable development through responsible financing citing the example of The Trust Fund that aims to support the basic services such as health, education and water access in the production areas with focus on low-income areas. The Trust Fund offers aid services to low-income, small-scale farmers in order to promote productivity levels through the intervention of appropriate technologies and availing animal and plant production inputs. In addition, the Trust Fund provides revolving loans and Training to small and medium enterprises, especially women to increase and sustain productivity.
AAAID adopts and integrated and sustainable approach to its agricultural and financing activities that comprises of availing access to finance to low-income groups, use of new technology, training and capacity building, environment friendly practices, community development and stakeholder engagement. All with the central notion of achieving its primary goal of reinforcing Arab Food Security.
