The Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) H.E Prof. Ibrahim Adam El Dukheri and the accompanying delegation held a meeting at the Union of Chambers of Agriculture and Animal Production at the Sudanese Business and Employers Federation on the 10th of February 2019.

 The joint meeting was enlightenment around the Sudan International Food Safety Conference-2019 (SIFSC) that is organized by the AOAD in the Friendship Hall, Khartoum, Sudan, during the period from 8th to 10th April 2019 under the theme "Towards safe and sustainable food".

H.E Prof. El Dukheri, stressed the importance of the private sector’s efforts role in achieving the objectives of AOAD, especially in the areas of food security, food safety, entrepreneurship and capacity building. He added, that the agriculture and animal production sector is an integral part of the success of the conference and AOAD’s programs and in accordance with a long-term strategy aimed at developing agricultural work and achieving food security to reach the stage of the joint Arab integration through the exploitation of resources and expertise and capital.

 H.E Prof. El Dukheri pointed out that Arab countries are able to fill a large part of the food gap through their programs and strategies, which is estimated at about $ 34 billion annually. H.E Prof. El Dukheri, said, it is important to enlighten the private sector, so as to create tangible movement and attention to the application of international standards and requirements for food safety to compete in regional and international markets.

He stressed, that the conference, which will be held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Sudan in cooperation between AOAD and the Sudanese Food Safety Association - SUFOSA – United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aims to strengthen the cooperation and coordination between all parties concerned with food safety locally and regionally and to develop mechanisms to monitor food safety and strengthen the capacities in Raising the awareness of food establishments and developing the legislative environment to adapt them to regional and international standards and enhance the competitiveness of Arab and Sudanese commodities.

For his part, Mr. Hashem Ali Mohamed Khair, President of the Union of Chambers of Agriculture and Animal Production praised the efforts and initiatives of AOAD and towards achieving the aspirations of the Arab nation to achieve the goal of Arab food security. He pointed out the harmony and compatibility of the objectives between the Union and the AOAD, stressing the readiness to establish a partnership to promote the agricultural and livestock sector. He also pointed to a number of initiatives and activities undertaken by the Union to increase production and improve goods export and achieve food safety in line with the requirements and global requirements to increase the issuance and access and competition in foreign markets.

 He reaffirmed the support to AOAD’s plans and programs through joint communication and coordination for the benefit of the private sector.

SIFSC is expected to witness the signing of cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding between businessmen and companies as well as the issuance of the Khartoum Declaration on Food Safety.