The UAE participates in the G20 environment ministers’ meetings and launches a strategic agribusiness dialogue with South Africa

Cape Town, 19 October / WAM / Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahhak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, led a high-level Emirati delegation on a strategic visit to Cape Town, South Africa, during which she participated in the G20 environment ministers’ meetings and launched the “UAE-South Africa Forum for Sustainable Agriculture and Food” to enhance cooperation in the areas of food security and innovation.

The visit came to consolidate the UAE’s position as an active and influential partner in the field of global environmental and climate action, as it aims to contribute constructively to the global dialogues of the G20, and at the same time transform this dialogue into concrete economic and investment partnerships that support food security and sustainable growth. During her participation in the meetings of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, Her Excellency Dr. Amna Al Dahak emphasized the UAE’s established approach to supporting multilateral action to confront pressing environmental and climate challenges.

In her opening speech, Her Excellency thanked South Africa’s presidency of the summit, stressing that “multilateral environmental cooperation is the most effective path to addressing complex issues,” while taking into account “the diverse national capabilities and special circumstances of all countries, especially developing ones.” In the UAE’s main intervention at the ministerial meeting, Her Excellency explained that the G20 directions aimed at enhancing cooperation, solidarity and equity are deeply consistent with the UAE’s national vision.

She reviewed the state’s support for priority areas such as biodiversity, combating desertification, the circular economy, and air quality, reaffirming the state’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 by investing in clean, renewable energy and nature-based solutions, and supporting the transformation of various vital sectors into sustainable systems.

In her closing speech, she expressed her appreciation to all ministers, and her emphasis on the UAE’s compatibility with the goals and principles of the ministerial declarations and the presidential statement emanating from the current meetings, which confirms the collective commitment to protecting planet Earth, achieving prosperity for all, and ensuring an urgent response to global environmental challenges.

On the sidelines of the G20 Environment Ministers’ meetings, the Ministry organized the “UAE-South Africa Forum for Sustainable Agriculture and Food,” a strategic dialogue platform aimed at enhancing cooperation in food security, innovation, and climate-resistant agriculture. The forum aims to facilitate agri-food trade and investment flows, encourage public-private partnerships in agricultural technology, and exchange experiences on desert agriculture and smart logistics services.

The forum witnessed the presence of Her Excellency Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahhak, His Excellency Alan Winde, Prime Minister of the Western Cape in South Africa, His Excellency Ambassador Mahsh Saeed Al Hameli, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of South Africa, in addition to a group of leaders from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, representatives of the relevant authorities in the country and Emirati companies working in the field of food and agriculture, and their counterparts from the South African side.

In her opening speech at the forum, Her Excellency Dr. Amna Al-Dahhak said: “This forum is evidence of our shared commitment to confronting one of the most pressing global challenges, which is the need to build sustainable food systems in the face of climate change and the increasing demand for food.”

She added: “South Africa, with its rich agricultural heritage and strong trade ties with the UAE, is a natural partner for us in our journey to enhance sustainable food security, and she called for strengthening that journey by strengthening partnerships between major Emirati and South African companies in the agricultural and food sector, noting that concluding more economic partnerships plays a major role in achieving the common food goals of the two countries, which the UAE is keen to expand.” And double it in the coming years.”

The forum witnessed the participation of a high-level Emirati delegation that included officials and decision-makers from leading governmental and private bodies, including the National Agricultural Centre, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Sharjah Department of Agriculture and Livestock, DP World, Dubai Chambers, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, in addition to major companies working in the fields of food security, agricultural production, technology and services. Logistics and livestock, such as “Agthia Group”, “Food Technology Valley”, “Fish Farm”, “Salal”, “Emirates Biological Farm”, “Al Foah Dates”, Admiral Companies, and Al Awar Livestock Trading, also witnessed active participation from the South African side, where the presence and interventions of an elite group of senior officials and experts contributed to enriching the working sessions, and included Attendees include representatives of key government agencies, such as the Director-General of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and his deputy, and representatives of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, in addition to key bodies in the sector such as the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Stellenbosch University, and Capespan, one of the major companies in the fruit sector. And fresh products, responsible for exporting premium agricultural products from South Africa to the world.

The broad participation allowed for a deep exchange of experiences and opened new horizons for future cooperation between the two countries. Intensive working sessions charted the features of future cooperation. To achieve these goals, the forum witnessed the organization of intensive working sessions and strategic dialogues that brought together an elite group of officials and experts from the governmental and private sectors in the two countries. The sessions focused on three main axes of cooperation: sustainable agricultural innovation, food security and resilient supply chains, and trade and investment facilitation. The discussions touched on ways to enhance investment in the sustainability of agricultural and food businesses, and discussed investment opportunities available in the two countries.

The sessions also discussed ways to develop agricultural logistics services, agricultural technology operations, and investment in the livestock sector, in addition to discussing legislation regulating farmers’ work and food security strategies. The first main session discussed ways to enhance investment in the sustainability of the food and agricultural business sector, while the second session focused on examining practical paths to enhance food security and build flexible and sustainable systems.

The forum is expected to produce a road map for bilateral cooperation in agricultural investment and innovation for the period (2026-2030). Field visits. As part of the visit program, the Emirati delegation undertook extensive field tours to explore practical opportunities and learn about pioneering experiences in the agricultural sector in South Africa. It began its tours by visiting the port of Cape Town, where it learned about the processes and mechanisms for exporting fresh agricultural products. It also included The program was a visit to the Western Cape Province, where there was a tour of a group of the largest lemon farms in the province, in addition to the central laboratories in the province that specialize in examining the quality of agricultural products and ensuring their conformity with international standards. The visits aimed to provide the Emirati delegation with a deep understanding of the local market, identify potential areas of cooperation, investment and trade facilitation, explore opportunities and build practical partnerships between the two countries.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related