Date: 14 Feb, 2019
In order to reinforce food security in the Arab Member States contributing to the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, AAAID has established a number of agricultural companies in the Sultanate of Oman. The investment cost of the Arab Authority’s projects in Oman amounted to about OMR 127.12 million. Whereby AAAID continues to invest in already established companies like the Omani Euro Food Industries Company, and companies under implementation like Osool Poultry Company, Al Bashaer Meat Company, Al Murouj Dairy Company, as well as Knowledge for Aquaculture Technologies LLC, which is under establishment.
Because of AAAID’s keenness to be present in the field of agriculture and closely follow up on food security strategies and plans in the Member States, H.E Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Mazrooei participated at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Investment Forum, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth of Oman. The event took place on 23-24, January 2019 at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman.
During the First Session, titled “Prospects and opportunities for agricultural investment, fish and food”, H.E Mohammed Al Mazrooei gave a presentation under the title “The Efforts of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development in Promoting Agricultural and Fisheries Investment in the Arab World «Reality and Future Visions»”. During the Forum, H.E discussed the projects and activities of the Arab Authority, the companies in which AAAID contributes to reinforce food security, AAAID’s development programs, and AAAID’s activities in the field of fish farming and sea fishing in Arab countries. This is in addition to AAAID’s efforts in mobilizing financial resources and promoting agricultural investment opportunities highlighted through presenting the current status of Arab food security and the Arab food gap, estimated in 2017 at USD 33.6 billion. Along with the efforts of the Arab Authority in achieving Arab food security, AAAID adopted a special approach to implement its programs and investment activities to reduce the food gap by focusing on investment in commodities in the Arab food basket and sectoral diversification through cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, milk, meat, fish and fodder.
The forum included a Discussion Panel focused on four main themes: the reality and prospects of investment and finance, innovations and technologies in food systems, partnership between the public and private sectors, and finding solutions to different challenges.
The forum also incorporated an exhibition for a number of companies that highlighted their works and activities in agricultural, fish and food production. Bilateral meetings were also organized through which promising investment opportunities available for promotion were presented and discussed. Additionally, brochures that contained 70 different investment opportunities were distributed. The opportunities included (15 prospects) in the vegetable sector, (19 prospects) in the livestock sector, (30 prospects) in the fish sector and (6 investment prospects) in the agricultural sector to encourage Arab investors to participate in these projects.
At the conclusion of the forum, AAAID, some of its Affiliate Companies, and a number of companies that participated in the forum were awarded.
