The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) has announced the opening of the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Virtual Platform tomorrow (Monday), in strategic partnership with the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. The new and virtual event is held alongside the F&B Networking Hub by SIAL Middle East, organised in collaboration with Comexposium, under the umbrella of the SIAL Middle East exhibition, on 23 November.
The ‘Abu Dhabi Date Palm Virtual Platform’will bring major growers, producers and importers of dates together with suppliers from all over the world, to continue doing business in compliance with health and safety measures that limit the spread of Coronavirus. The decision to create a virtual event follows the postponement of the 2020 edition of SIAL Middle East and the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition, now scheduled to take place from 7-9 September 2021.
This international event, the world’s only specialized event for date merchants, reinforces Abu Dhabi’s as hub for the date industry and a centre for development of this sector. The event,involving over 20 companies from five countries, will focus on date palm cultivation and production, support and development of the date palm sector, agricultural innovation, enhanced food security, and global sustainable development goals.
Commenting on this strategic partnership, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, the Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, said: “We are pleased to cooperate with ADNEC to bring together producers, importers and suppliers of dates from all parts of the world, to continue doing business, and to enhance food security at the national and global level, in line with the challenges the world is going through today.”
“Since its inception, the UAE has understood the importance of the date palm cultivation sector and the wise leadership has ensured its development, and established the country as one of the most important in the world in the production and export of dates. We are committed to continuing these efforts to ensure sufficient production of dates, one of the most important strategic commodities for the country”, Dr. Zaid also added.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC, said: “Through this strategic partnership, we will strengthen the award’s pivotal role and contribution to preserving this important part of our national cultural heritage.”
Al Dhaheri also added: “We have developed the ‘Abu Dhabi Date Palm Virtual Platform’, to support global partners, suppliers and investors, and to ensure the continuity of their business. This platform will drive international cooperation between leaders across the date industry, creating a new platform for learning, to address challenges and maximize opportunities,as they can plan for their future.”
The most recent Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition was held alongside the SIAL Middle East Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.Participants in the 2019 edition were from 84 companies, representing 12exhibiting countries, and hosted 87 international buyers.
The Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation was established in response to the development framework set out by the UAE government to make date production a national priority, with the aim of promoting agricultural innovation, encouraging date palm research and recognizing contributing individuals and institutions in this important field.
