Minister of Development and Foreign Affairs: Kuwait attaches great importance to food security and supports efforts for Gulf integration

State Minister for Development and Sustainability, Dr. Reem Al-Falih, confirmed on Thursday that Kuwait attaches great importance to the food security file and supports efforts aimed at enhancing Gulf integration in this field, particularly regarding strategic reserves, the sustainability of supply chains, the exchange of expertise and information, and the development of joint legislation and regulations.

This statement was made by Minister Al-Falih to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following her participation in the 38th meeting of the Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security Committee of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Budaiwi, and the heads of participating delegations.

Minister Al-Falih, who headed the Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting, stated that the gathering was held as part of continued joint Gulf efforts to enhance cooperation and integration between GCC member states in the agricultural and food sectors, thereby supporting the achievement of food security and resource sustainability in the Council’s countries.

She emphasized the importance of continuing work to transition joint Gulf cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors to broader levels of integration and coordination, thereby strengthening the GCC countries’ capacity to deal with regional and international crises and challenges, and cementing a sustainable Gulf food security system.

She clarified that the meeting discussed several priority Gulf files, foremost among them the study on establishing joint Gulf strategic storage zones for food, medicines, and other needs, as well as the food security strategy and the plant genetic resources bank. These initiatives aim to enhance the preparedness and capacity of GCC countries to confront challenges and changes related to food security and supply chains.

She added that the agenda also included reviewing a number of joint Gulf legislations and regulations in the agricultural field, including lists of prohibited and restricted pesticides, the amended draft law (system) on pesticides, the amended draft executive regulation for the law (system) on fertilizers and soil conditioners, and the unified system regarding inputs and organic products for GCC member states.

She noted that the meeting discussed several topics related to animal health and wealth, foremost among them the amended draft executive regulation for the veterinary quarantine law, the joint procurement of veterinary medicines and vaccines, and the central registration of veterinary preparations. These measures contribute to raising the level of Gulf coordination and strengthening the animal and veterinary security system in the Council’s countries.

She further mentioned that the meeting discussed harmonizing the minimum allowed lengths for catching certain fish species, as part of joint Gulf efforts to preserve fish stocks, develop fish wealth, and ensure its sustainability.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Al-Falih met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the sister Kingdom of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the deep, historic, and solid fraternal relations uniting the Gulf countries, and on the importance of continuing to enhance joint cooperation and coordination among GCC member states in various fields, particularly those related to food security.