Enhancing Collaboration between the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture

Dubai – H.E. Mohammed Bin Obaid Almazrooei, Chairman of the Board and President of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), along with Mr. Al Arabi Mohammed Hamdi, Advisor to the President for Economic Affairs in AAAID, visited the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) on 19 June 2013. 

The AAAID delegation met with ICBA senior management: Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif, Deputy Director General, and Dr. Mohamed Amrani, Director of Research and Innovation and Mrs. Fiona Chandler, Director of International Cooperation and Partnerships.

The discussions covered future of collaboration between the two institutions; following which, the discussants visited the ICBA research labs, farm, and had the opportunity to inspect closely the ongoing researches at ICBA.

This visit is a continuation of an initial discussion that started between both parties in Dushanbe in Tajikistan, in May 2013 at the Forum on Innovations in Agriculture and Food Security, which was organized by ICBA and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). ICBA is actively looking to establish key strategic partnerships with organizations having shared objectives.

Dr. Amrani said that AAAID constitutes a natural partner of choice to ICBA. AAAID’s main objectives to contribute in achieving food security in the Arab region through investment, and the development of agricultural resources and capabilities, including natural and human resources and technical capabilities complements ICBA. Moreover, he added, AAAID activities include investments in support activities for agriculture; such as, investments in development programs, technology transfer and training.

Dr. Amrani concluded by saying, “There is a great interest from both parties to collaborate together. AAAID has asked to explore further the possibilities of using ICBA as the technical arm especially for projects related to agriculture and tap into the rich expertise in agronomy, soil and water management that are available at the Center [ICBA].”