UAE’s industrial success key to robust national food security

The industrial sector is a key pillar in the UAE’s food security strategy and will help enhance food security in the future as the sector becomes increasingly advanced through the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

That is according to industry experts who briefed Dr Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, during a recent visit to the headquarters of Al Dahra Group, in Khalifa Industrial City (KIZAD).

Al Dahra Group is a prominent multinational leader in agribusiness specialising in the cultivation, production, and trading of animal feed and essential food commodities, such as rice, fruits and vegetables, and runs the largest rice factory in the Middle East. It operates in over 20 countries and caters to more than 45 markets in Asia and Middle East, employing more than 5,000 people.

Since its establishment, the company has achieved remarkable growth, leveraging an effective foreign investment strategy, which was manifested in a series of acquisitions and partnerships with food and feed producers around the world.

During the visit, Al Jaber heard how firms such as Al Dahra Group are key to not only strengthening the UAE’s position as a global industrial hub, but also an important part of the country’s overall food security strategy, which depends on resilient and agile supply chains.

Dr Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber met with a team from Al Dahra Group led by Khadim Abdulla Al Derei, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Dr. Sulaiman Rashed Al Nuaimi, CEO-Government Relation, Hamdan Abdulla Al Derei, Chief Operations Officer of the UAE Division at Al Dahra Agriculture, and.

Dr Sultan was accompanied by Omar Ahmed Suwain Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber was briefed on the company’s development plans, expansion opportunities, regional and global competition, and the advantages of being located in KIZAD. The industrial city in Abu Dhabi provides a strategic reserve stock that enhances food security, taking advantage of the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s industrial incentives.

“In line with our government’s vision, The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is focused on stimulating the industrial sector and providing a clear supportive business environment for investors to enhance the contribution of the industrial sector to national GDP,” Al Jaber.

“The agricultural sector is one of the vital sectors, given its pivotal role in strengthening national food security. We support all innovative projects and focus on ensuring a legislative environment that enhances their success and improves their quality and competitiveness.” He stressed that industrial investments in the UAE are quickly transforming into regional and global success stories thanks to the country’s continuous support for industry.

“We are entering a new phase where projects, start-ups, and small and medium-sized companies, have excellent opportunities for growth. The Ministry is working within an integrated framework with partners in the public and private sectors to support the growth of national industries and enhance their competitiveness, as well as providing financing solutions for business growth through strategic partners such as the Emirates Development Bank. The Ministry is also promoting the adoption of advanced technology and solutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in a way that enhances the competitive advantages of national products in local and international markets.”

His Excellency praised the role of KIZAD and its ability to provide competitive advantages for companies.

The visit was part of a series conducted by His Excellency to industrial cities in the Emirates to review the projects and initiatives of companies, factories, and production lines. The visits are part of the UAE’s national strategy for industry and advanced technology, which aims to enhance and empower the industrial sector, especially priority sectors, to enhance the investment attractiveness of the UAE industrial sector.

The visit was also part of the Ministry’s efforts to directly communicate with its partners in the industrial sector, reviewing innovative industrial projects and ensuring an environment that contributes to enhancing the sector’s success, based on the pillars of innovation, sustainability, and future foresight.

For his part, Khadim Abdulla Al derei, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Al Dahra Group, said: “The role of the factory is closely linked to the national strategy for food security in the UAE, which aims to develop a comprehensive national system based on the foundations of enabling sustainable food production, and identifies the elements of national food basket.”