Bahraini Minister Emphasizes the Importance of Strengthening Gulf Cooperation for the Sustainability of Food Security Systems
Manama, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Bahraini Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Engineer Wael Al-Mubarak emphasized the importance of continuing to develop Gulf cooperation and coordination in the fields of supply chains, agricultural and livestock production, and food safety, and of leveraging shared expertise and capacities to enhance the readiness of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and support the sustainability of food security systems.
This was stated in a speech delivered by Al-Mubarak on Thursday while chairing the 38th meeting of the Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security Committee of the GCC, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting was attended by Kuwaiti Minister of State for Development and Sustainability Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, as well as ministers and officials responsible for agriculture and food security matters in GCC countries, and was attended by GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi.
Al-Mubarak affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to develop its agricultural sector and strengthen food security and supply chain sustainability by supporting local production, expanding the use of modern agricultural technologies, and supporting Bahraini farmers.
He highlighted the role of harmonizing GCC-related legislation and regulations in enhancing integration among GCC member states, facilitating the movement of goods and agricultural and livestock products, and improving the efficiency of procedures and protection and safety standards to keep pace with scientific and technical developments.
The meeting’s agenda included a number of topics, including the review and development of several unified GCC legislations, foremost among them the Pesticides Law, the Executive Regulations of the Fertilizers and Soil Enhancers Law, and the Executive Regulations of the Veterinary Quarantine Law. The agenda also covered the discussion of the Genetic Resources Bank and the GCC Food Security Strategy, as well as the exchange of expertise and experiences in agricultural, livestock, and food security fields.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed a number of topics and joint initiatives in the fields of agricultural cooperation and food security, and approved several decisions on the agenda, paving the way for their submission to the GCC Supreme Council. (End) K.N.A. / M.A.A.
