Al-Faleh: Areas for Gulf Strategic Storage

State Minister for Development and Sustainability, Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, revealed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are exploring the establishment of GCC strategic storage zones for food, pharmaceuticals, and other essential needs, as well as a food security strategy and a plant genetic assets bank, to enhance their readiness and capacity to confront challenges and changes related to food security and supply chains. This statement came from Al-Faleh following her participation yesterday in the 38th meeting of the GCC Committee for Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She stated that the meeting was convened as part of continued joint GCC efforts to strengthen cooperation and integration among member states in the agricultural and food sectors, thereby supporting the achievement of food security and resource sustainability in the GCC countries. She emphasized the importance of continuing work to advance GCC cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors to broader levels of integration and coordination, enhancing the GCC countries’ ability to manage regional and international crises and challenges, and cementing a sustainable GCC food security system. She noted that the meeting discussed several topics related to animal health and livestock, foremost among them the amended executive regulations of the Veterinary Quarantine Law, the unified procurement of veterinary drugs and vaccines, and the central registration of veterinary products, all of which contribute to raising the level of GCC coordination and strengthening the animal and veterinary health security system in member states. She also mentioned that the meeting discussed harmonizing the minimum allowable lengths for catching certain fish species traded in the region, as part of joint GCC efforts aimed at preserving fish stocks, developing the fisheries sector, and ensuring its sustainability.